Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES IN-VITRO OF FICUS UMBELLATA (VAHL.) LEAVES, A PLANT USED TO PREVENT BLOOD HYPERCOAGULATION IN BENIN

Gbèssohèlè Justin Behanzin, Atchadé Pascal Tchogou*, Steven Chokki, Perside Savoeda, Léocardie Akpoli, Lamine Baba-Mousa, Maximin Senou and Alphonse Sezan

Abstract

Background: Ficus umbellata leaves are used for a variety of medicinal applications. However, there are few in-depth studies on their phytochemical and anti-inflammatory potential. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical potential, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in-vitro of Ficus umbellata leaves Methods: The study was carried out on aqueous, ethanolic and hydro-ethanolic extracts of Ficus umbellata leaves. Phytochemical screening was performed using the staining method. DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and APM methods were used to assess the antioxidant activity of the three extracts. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Ficus umbellata extracts was assessed using the albumin denaturation inhibition assay. Results: Phytochemical screening results demonstrated the effectiveness of pure ethanol in extracting a wide range of secondary metabolites from Ficus umbellata leaves. Assays of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and catechic tannins in ethanolic extracts of Ficus umbellata leaves showed significantly higher concentrations. The results highlighted the efficacy of ethanolic extracts of Ficus umbellata in terms of their ability to reduce iron (FRAP), APM, DPPH and inhibition of the radical cation ABTS compared with hydro-ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Albumin denaturation inhibition values for the aqueous extract of Ficus umbellata remained relatively lower than for the hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts. Conclusion: Pure ethanol proved more effective than water and diluted ethanol.

Keywords: Ficus umbellata, Leaves, Extracts, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory.