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<i>In vitro</i> antidiabetic, aphrodisiac and antimicrobial properties of para-propoxybenzoic acid isolated from <i>Acacia auriculiformis</i> A. Cunn Ex. Benth (Fabaceae) stem bark


Ekarika C. Johnson
Richard A. Ukpe
Emmanuel I. Etim
Uwemedimoh F. Umoh
Olorunfemi A. Eseyin
Anwanabasi E. Udoh
Tina Mboho
Paschal C. Anthony

Abstract





Purpose: To investigate the in vitro antidiabetic, aphrodisiac and antimicrobial properties of para-propoxybenzoic acid isolated from Acacia auriculiformis stem bark.


Methods: Powdered dried stem bark of A. auriculiformis was extracted with 70 % ethanol in water and the dried extract obtained was suspended in water and partitioned with ethyl acetate and n-butanol to give their respective soluble fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction being more active, in terms of in-vitro aphrodisiac, antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties, was subjected to chromatographic separation to obtain C1 identified as parapropoxybenzoic acid, which was also evaluated for in-vitro properties using standard procedures.


Results: 4-Propoxybenzoic acid showed a weak aphrodisiac property which was not significantly different (p < 0.05) from that of control (normal saline) for all the sexual parameters tested. The compound exhibited antidiabetic activity by dose-dependently inhibiting the actions of α-amylase with half-maximal concentration (IC50) value of 50 ± 0.45 μg/mL. In this regard, it was comparable to that of the standard, acarbose (30 ± 0.18 μg/mL). In the antimicrobial study, a concentration of 200 μg/mL of the compound gave the highest zone of inhibition of 18 ± 0.23 mm against Vibo cholriae (NCTC 5438)


Conclusion: The results indicate that the isolated compound, 4-propoxybenzoic, exhibits good antidiabetic and anti-microbial but weak aphrodisiac properties.






Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996