Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS, ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY OF EXTRACTS FROM BRUCEA SUMATRANA ROXB. (SIMAROUBACEAE) LEAVES COLLECTED IN MAI-NDOMBE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Tshodi Ehata M., Nsaka Lumpu S., Kambu Kabangu O., Lami Nzunzu J., Cimanga Kanyanga R.*, Vlientick A. J., Pieters L.

ABSTRACT

This study reported for the first time the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts and fractions from B. sumatrana leaves collected in Mai-Ndombe in Democratic Republic of Congo. In the antioxidant test, results indicated that extracts and soluble fractions from B. sumatrana leaves exhibited good and interesting antioxidant activity against some selected reactive oxygen species (ROS) or oxygen radical species like DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl with IC 50 values ranging from 2.05±0.01 to 15.11±0.02 μ/ml. The most active sample were the lyophilized aqueous and 80% methanol extracts, ethylactacete and residual aqueous soluble fractions exerting this activity with IC50 < 10 μg/ml against all ROS. When test for anti-inflammatory against carrageenan induced increase of foot volume, the use of oral doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body in animals with oedema induced significant reduction of foot volume from 60 to 80% inhibition compared to negative control. The high foot volume inhibition of oedema was obtained with the administration of the highest oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The inhibition of foot volume showed by aqueous lyophilized, 80% methanol and total alkaloid extracts was more than 85% and was dose-dependent. All soluble fractions including chloroform, ethyacetate, n-butanol and residual aqueous phase showed more than 60% inhibition of foot volume at the highest oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. These results showed that these extracts from B. sumatrana possess good and appreciable anti-inflammatory activity and can thus, support and justify the use of the plant part in traditional medicine for he treating of rheumatism and other pains. In addition, the lyophilized did no induce mortality of animal at the highest oral dose of 50000 mg/kg bodyweight. its LD50 was estimated to be greater than5000 mg/kg body weight and the extract was considered practically non-toxic by oral route and safe.

Keywords: Brucea sumatrana, leaves, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, acute and subacute toxicity.