ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF ACALYPHA FRUTICOSA

Abstract

The methanol extract of the leaves of Acalypha fruticosa was evaluated for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant property of the methanol extract of Acalypha fruticosa (MEAF) was evaluated by 1,1,-dipehenyl-2- picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and in-vitro lipid perioxdation induced by Fe²⁺ -ascorbate system in the rat liver homogenate. In DPPH radidcal scavenging assay the IC₅₀ value pf the defatted methanol extract was found to be 57μg/ml whereas the ascorbic acid exhibited 422μg/ml. The extract also showed marked inhibiting activities in lipid peroxide levels in Fe²⁺-ascorbate system. The MEAF exhibited maximum inhibition (55.2%) at the dose of 500 mg/kg after 3 h of drug treatment in carrageenan induced paw oedema, whereas the idomethacin (standard drug, 20 mg/kg) produced 62.0% of inhibition. In the chronic model (cotton pellet induced granuloma), the MEAF (500 mg/kg) and standard drug showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue at 52.4% and 57.3% (p<0.001) respectively. Thus, the present study revealed that the MEAF exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the tested models.


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Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol.7 2003: 25-29