Evaluation of phytochemical screening and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of mangrove associate plant Pemphis acidula J.R. Forst and G. Forst (Lythraceae)

Abstract

The study investigated the phytochemical screening and anti-inflammatory activity of Pemphis acidula. The phytochemical screening of methanol and ethanol extracts of Pemphis acidula revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, quinones, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, sugars, glycosides and xanthoproteins. The anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract of Pemphis acidula was evaluated using five in vitro based assays. Protein denaturation, proteinase inhibition, heat induced haemolysis, hypotonicity induced haemolysis and lipoxygenase inhibition at different concentration (100-1000 mg/ml). Aspirin, diclofenac sodium and indomethacin were used as standard drugs. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the ethanol extract of Pemphis acidula can be a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents.