Investigation on in vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Methanol and Dichloromethane Extracts of the Leaf of Globimetula oreophila

Aims: The study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and membrane stabilizing potentials of
the leaf of Globimetula oreophila, with a view to providing scientific support for the acclaimed
ethnomedicinal or traditional uses of the plant.
Methodology: The study involved collection, identification, drying, pulverizing, extraction and
fractionation of extracts of the dried leaves of G. oreophila. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities
of the extracts and fractions were evaluated using red blood cell membrane stabilization technique,
while assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate, nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity and ferric
reducing antioxidant power).
Results: The results revealed that the extracts and the fractions of G. oreophila exhibited potent
antioxidant activities. Fraction 1 of the methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with
IC50 of 45.83 ± 0.13 μg/ml while fraction 7 of the same extract was the most potent in stabilizing
stressed red blood cells having 100±0.00% membrane stability. The activities of both the fractions and
the extracts of G. oreophila compared favourably with the standard antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
drugs. Moreover, the activities of the fractions and extracts are concentration dependent.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the extracts and fractions of G. oreophila possess and exhibit
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities which were concentration dependent and compared
favourably with those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. On the basis of these results, it could
be inferred that the extracts and the fractions of G. oreophila contain principles that were capable of
stabilizing bovine red blood cell membrane exposed to heat and hypotonic-induced lyses and could,
therefore, serve as a scientific proof for the use of these plant extracts by the local traditional health
practitioners in the management and treatment of inflammatory related diseases.