ABSTRACT
Aims: The present research aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae) grown in Nigeria Study Design: The study involves the extraction of crude extracts from the leaf of H. crepitans and the evaluation of their anti-inflammatory potential. Place and Duration of Study: Fresh leaves of H. crepitans were collected from Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, Nigeria (6.4664oN, 3.2835oE). The sheets were air-dried in the laboratory of Lagos State University where the extraction of crude and anti-inflammatory studies took place. The study lasted between March and November 2017. Methodology: The dried and pulverised leaves (0.5 kg) of H. crepitans were separately macerated in hexane and ethyl acetate for five (5) days in an airtight bottle and shook periodically (agitation) to maximise full extraction of the phyto-constituents. The extracts were decanted, filtered and concentrated on a rotary evaporator to obtained dried samples. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined on fresh egg albumins over 4 h by measurement of rat paw edema according to established procedure. Results: The result of the extraction shows that more phytochemicals are present in the ethyl acetate extract (15.0%) as compared to the hexane extract (7.2%). The anti-inflammatory activities of the ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of H. crepitans on Wistar rats using egg-albumin as phlogistic agents shows a moderate inhibition with a significant value of P< 0.05 at a dose of 200 mg/kg orally. Percentage inhibition of the anti-inflammation decreases steadily from the 1st hr to the 4th hr for the hexane extract (11.7 to 1.5% ) while there was an increment in the ethyl acetate extract from 12% to 32.5% for the 1st and the 4th hr respectively when compared with the control. Conclusion: This study has shown that the extracts of H. crepitans leaves possessed a significant anti-oedematogenic effect on paw oedema induced by egg-albumin by inhibiting the release of mediators for the entire 4 h experimental period.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCCIÓN: la malaria es la enfermedad parasitaria de mayor importancia para la salud mundial. La carencia de diversidad estructural de los antimaláricos en uso convierte en una necesidad urgente la búsqueda de nuevas alternativas terapéuticas. Las plantas han demostrado su potencial para proveer antimaláricos efectivos. Una amplia muestra de plantas medicinales cubanas están siendo estudiadas con este propósito. OBJETIVO: evaluar la actividad antimalárica de extractos de 6 especies de plantas y determinar su selectividad midiendo la citotoxicidad frente a células humanas. MÉTODOS: se prepararon extractos hidroalcohólicos de partes aéreas de: Annona glabra L., Bidens pilosa L., Cecropia peltata L., Curcuma longa L., Hura crepitans L. y Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass. La actividad de los extractos se evaluó in vitro frente a Plasmodium falciparum y fibroblastos humanos MRC-5. Se calcularon la concentración inhibitoria media, concentración citotóxica media y el índice de selectividad. Se realizó un tamizaje fitoquímico preliminar del extracto más activo. RESULTADOS: solo el extracto de H. crepitans mostró buena actividad antiplasmodial (concentración inhibitoria media de 5,7 µg/mL) con excelente selectividad (índice de selectividad de 18,8). El tamizaje fitoquímico reveló la presencia de compuestos fenólicos, triterpenoides, alcaloides, quinonas, flavonoides y antocianidinas. CONCLUSIONES: se obtuvo un extracto con potente actividad antimalárica in vitro. Este resultado induce a continuar estudiando esta preparación vegetal.
INTRODUCTION: malaria is the most important parasitic disease for global health. Lack of the structural diversity in current antimalarials demands the urgent search for new therapeutic alternatives. The plants have shown their potential to provide effective antimalarials, therefore, a large sample of Cuban medicinal plants is being studied. OBJECTIVES: to evaluate antimalarial activity of extracts from six plant species and to determine their selectivity by meassuring cytotoxicity against human cells. METHODS: hydroalcoholic extracts from Annona glabra L., Bidens pilosa L., Cecropia peltata L., Curcuma longa L., Hura crepitans L. and Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass. were prepared. Their activity was evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and human fibroblasts MRC-5. The mean inhibitory concentration, the mean cytotoxic concentration and the selectivity index were estimated. A preliminary phytochemical screening of the most active extract was made. RESULTS: H. crepitans extract was the only one that showed good antiplasmodial activity (mean inhibitory concentration of 5.7 µg/mL) with excellent selectivity (selectivity index of 18.8). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, alkaloids, quinones, flavonoids and anthocyanidins. CONCLUSIONS: one extract with potent antimalarial activity in vitro was obtained. This result is an incentive to continue studying this vegetal preparation.