IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE LEAF EXTRACTS OF EXCOECARIA AGALLOCHA L.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of the leaf extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L.Methods: To estimate the antioxidant effect of the extract from Excoecaria agallocha, various assays were carried out. Estimation of total phenolics was done by Folin–Ciocalteu micro-method, total antioxidant capacity was determined by sulphuric acid-ammonium molybdate method, reducing power assay was carried out by FRAP (Ferric cyanide (Fe3+) Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay method and free radical-scavenging activity was estimated by DPPH (diphenyl-picrylhydrazine) and ABTS methods. Bovine serum denaturation inhibition assay was performed to test the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extract, MTT assay was carried out to find out the antiproliferative effect of the extract against SKMEL 28 skin cancer cell lines The crude ethyl acetate fraction was finally analyzed by thin layer chromatography to reveal 8 bands indicating presence of various compounds that probably contributed to the various biological activities.Results: The total antioxidant activity, total phenolics content and reducing power assay tested with various solvent fractions of Excoecaria agallocha leaf extract showed that ethyl acetate fraction had the highest antioxidant activity, reducing power and phenolics content among other fractions. The scavenging effect of extracts and standards on ABTS•+decreased in the order: ethyl acetate>n Butanol>Water>petroleum ether>Gallic acid. The relative percentage of inhibition of BSA denaturation by the ethyl acetate extract was found to be 85.38% at a concentration of 100 µg/ml in comparison to the standard diclofenac sodium which brought about 13.65% of inhibition of BSA denaturation at the same concentration. The GI50 was found to be 19.02 µg/ml for DMSO and 39.2 µg/ml for ethyl acetate fraction against SKMEL 28 skin cancer cell lines.Conclusion: These results suggest that the extracts of Excoecaria agallocha possess significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities.Â

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF PSIDIUM GUAJAVA BARK AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PSIDIUM GUAJAVA BARK TANNINS

Objective: Medicinal plants have been used in primary health care over many centuries before the advent of modern medicine. Psidium guajava is one of the important medicinal plants having many therapeutic uses. The present study deals with phytochemical investigations of Psidium guajava bark and in vitro antioxidant activities of Psidium guajava bark tannins.Method: Acetone, Ethanol and Water extracts of Psidium guajava bark were assessed for the phytochemical screening.  Extraction of tannin from guava bark was assessed using a cold extraction method. Total phenolic content was estimated using Folin-Ciocalteau's method.  Tannin was estimated using Folin-Denis method.  The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide radical, super oxide radical activity and Neutrophil-MTT assay. Ascorbic acid and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as standard drugs for the antioxidant studies. Results: The phytochemical analysis of guava bark revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and phenols in all three bark extracts (Acetone, Ethanol and Water).  The bark tannin extract possessed strong scavenging activity against DPPH, Nitric oxide radical, super oxide radical and Neutrophil-MTT assays, IC50 values were 31.94 mg/ml, 54.37mg/ml, 19.04 mg/ml and 95.41 mg/ml respectively. Conclusion: From the results, it may be concluded that tannins present in the bark of Psidium guajava may be responsible for the antioxidant activity and has promising therapeutic potential, its pharmacological properties which if properly harness can be used in the management of various diseases and can serve as a base for the development of novel potent drug. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Psidium guajava, tannins, antioxidants, neutrophil-MTT assay

Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Plectranthus hadiensis </i>(Forssk.) Schweinf. ex Spreng. aerial parts

359-365Herbal medicine has been in use by diverse civilizations in different parts of the world for centuries. Present study investigates the phytochemical constitution of the methanolic extract of the aerial part of Plectranthus hadiensis (Forssk.) Schweinf. ex Spreng. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract had revealed high content of phenolics which was confirmed by TLC, HPTLC and HPLC studies. The antioxidant activity was checked using DPPH assay, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity assay and reducing power assay. The methanolic extract showed considerably high antioxidant activity compared to the standards used, viz. ascorbic acid and BHT (Butylated Hydroxy Toluene). The presence of phenolics supported medicinal uses of the species and active biomolecules could be isolated for pharmaceutical applications