Abstract

IN VITRO DNA DAMAGE INHIBITION ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACT OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA LEAVES

Sani Shadrach Bello., Ngabonzima Evalde, *Cosmas Samuel, Iyaji Raphael Okai, Ene
Chibueze Kelechi, Ilo Charity Chinyere

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) is a plant widely used both for nutritional and medicinal purposes throughout tropical Africa. Its health-promoting ability might be related to the effect various bioactive components of the plant. In this study the DNA damage inhibition activity of this plant was investigated using the aqueous extract and the ethyl acetate fractions of the leaves. The fractions were used in various concentrations (10mg/ml, 5mg/ml and 1mg/ml) against DNA damage caused by Fenton’s system and it was discovered that they protected the plasmid DNA from damage caused by the Fenton’s system. The protective activity varied with concentration as the higher concentration showed better protective ability when compared to the lower concentration. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis and fatty acids were separated from the fraction. These observations emphasize that both the aqueous and ethyl acetate extract of V. amygdalina possess DNA damage inhibition potential and although, the specific bioactive compound responsible for the inhibition activity was not discovered in this work the plant can be used to develop compounds for therapeutic uses.

Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, Gc-Ms Extraction, DNA damage inhibition.