The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Picralima nitida seeds ethanol and hexane extracts

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been observed to provide cures to certain ailments. Various parts of these plants have been employed ethnomedicinally as remedy for fever, hypertension, jaundice, gastrointestinal disorders, malaria etc. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant potential and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane and ethanol extracts of Picralima nitida seeds. In vitro antioxidant studies carried out include Ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay and DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2picryl-hydrdrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The quantitative phytochemical assessment carried out was the total phenol content. In vivo anti-inflammatory study was performed using carrageenan induced-paw edema model. Hexane extract and ethanol extract of P. nitida seeds possess antioxidant activities whereas ethanol extract possessed higher phenol content than the hexane extract. In vivo studies, showed that hexane extract suppressed carrageenan induced paw edema at the late phases of inflammation (3^rd-6^th hour) when compared with the standard, Diclofenac sodium. This study suggests that P. nitida possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with these pharmacological activities among others serving as the base for its use in traditional medicine.