<i>In vitro</i> antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic properties of leaf extract and fractions of <i>Pterocarpus mildbraedii</i> harms

Abstract

The study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic properties of methanolic extract (PMME) and fractions of the leaf of Pterocarpus mildbraedii with a view to exploring the therapeutic potentials of the plant especially as far as treatment and management of oxidative, inflammatory and heart related disorders are concerned. The study involved collection, identification, extraction with 80%
methanol, fractionation of hydromethanolic extract of P. mildbraedii leaves with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and nbutanol; evaluation of the contents for total phenolics, flavonoids as well as vitamins C and E. Evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of the plant using 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power, hydrogen peroxide reduction, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and stabilization of erythrocyte membrane and inhibition of albumin denaturation were also carried out. The total phenolic content ranged between 13.31 ± 0.12 and 234.99 ± 2.64 GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g, flavonoid content ranged between 44.30 ± 0.74 and 228.74 ± 7.44 QE (quercetin equivalent)/g, vitamin C content was 11.98 ± 0.04 mg/g while vitamin E content was 8.62 ± 0.29 ìg/g. The fractions exhibited potent and significant antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities which are concentration-dependent, as well as appreciable thrombolytic activities. Moreover, the extract and fractions compared favourably with various reference drugs used in the study. It was observed that the extract and its fractions possessed bioactive components with beneficial effects in the management of oxidative, inflammatory and heart-related conditions.

Keywords: Pterocarpus mildbraedii methanolic extract, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Thrombolytic, Membrane stability, Haemoglobin, Denaturation.