Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Extracts from Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Eremomastax speciosa, Carica papaya and Polyscias fulva Medicinal Plants Collected in Cameroon

Abstract

BackgroundThe vast majority of the population around the world has always used medicinal plants as first source of health care to fight infectious and non infectious diseases. Most of these medicinal plants may have scientific evidence to be considered in general practice.ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant capacities and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts of leaves of Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa and the stem bark of Polyscias fulva, collected in Cameroon.MethodsChemiluminescence was used to analyze the antioxidant activities of plant extracts against hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion. Comet assays were used to analyze the protection against antioxidant-induced DNA damage induced in white blood cells after treating with hydrogen peroxide. Flow cytometry was used to measure γδ T cells proliferation and anti-inflammatory activity of γδ T cells and of immature dendritic cells (imDC) in the presence of different concentrations of plant extracts.ResultsEthanol extracts showed strong antioxidant properties against both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Cassia alata showed the highest antioxidant activity. The effect of plant extracts on γδ T cells and imDC was evidenced by the dose dependent reduction in TNF-α production in the presence of Cassia alata, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa Eleusine indica, and Polyscias fulva. γδ T cells proliferation was affected to the greatest extent by Polyscias fulva.ConclusionThese results clearly show the antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activities of plant extracts collected in Cameroon. These properties of leaves and stem bark extracts may contribute to the value for these plants in traditional medicine and in general medical practice.

Studies on the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of Cassis alata using FT-IR, HPLC and GC-MS analysis

“…C.alata used as a traditional medicine, particularly valued for its laxative effect and DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2017.04.12.012 its effective treatment of several skin conditions, including ringworm and scabies [4,5]. Crude leaf extracts have shown antibacterial activity against a range of bacteria and also antitumor activity [6]. The bark is used to treat skin diseases, diarrhoea, worms, parasitic skin diseases, scabies and eczema [7].…”

Senna alata leaf extract restores insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

“…It has numerous pharmacological activities such as antitumor [10], anthelmintic [11], anti-bacterial [12], anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory [13], and anti-diabetic activities [14]. A recent study found that S. alata (250 and 500 mg/kg) improved abnormal lipid metabolism by suppressing hepatic lipogenic genes, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) [15].…”

In Vitro Studies on Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic and Cytotoxic Potential of Parmelia Perlata

“…Oxidative damage of tissues and biomolecules occur when the levels of free radicals species exceed the level of antioxidant mechanism eventually leading to disease conditions [30]. Medicinal properties of plants have been investigated for their potential antioxidant activities to counteract metabolic disorders [31], Plant extracts and plant-derived antioxidant compounds may potentiate the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms [32]. From results, it may be postulated that Parmelia was able to reduce the stable free radical DPPH to the yellow-colored diphenylpicrylhydrazine exhibiting free radical scavenging activity.…”