In vitro studies to assess the antioxidative, radical scavenging and arginase inhibitory potentials of extracts from Artocarpus altilis, Ficus exasperate and Kigelia africana

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Olubukola Oyebimpe Akanni, Solomon Eduviere Owumi, Oluwatosin Adekunle Adaramoye
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014
• Subjects: Antioxidant; lipid peroxidation; Arginase; Free radicals; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.12980/APJTB.4.2014C581; https://doaj.org/article/f721eff740974faa88296be0e2d82353

Objective: To justify the use of Artocarpus altilis (A. altilis), Ficus exasperata (F. exasperata) and Kigelia africana (K. africana) in ethnomedicine for the treatment of several ailments and to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, radical scavenging and arginase inhibitory potentials of these herbs and compared with catechin (Standard). Methods: Antioxidant activities were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals scavenging methods. The flavonoids and phenolics content, inhibition of arginase activity, Fe2+/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reducing power were also determined. Results: The A. altilis, F. exasperata and K. africana showed dose-dependent and significant scavenging of DPPH, H2O2 and OH radicals in vitro relative to catechin. The A. altilis and F. exasperata effectively scavenged DPPH radical with IC50 of 593 and 635 μg/mL and, OH radical with IC50 of 487 and 514 μg/mL, respectively. The DPPH and OH radicals scavenging activities followed the order A. altilis>F. exasperata>K. africana. In addition, A. altilis and F. exasperata significantly (P<0.05) inhibited LPO in a dose-dependent manner. The A. altilis extract had the most potent inhibitory activity against LPO with 79% relative to catechin (28%) at 750 μg/mL. The reducing power followed the order: A. altilis>Catechin>F. exasperata>K. africana at 1 000 μg/mL. The A. altilis at 500 and 750 μg/mL significantly (P<0.05) inhibited arginase activity by 63% and 67%, respectively. The flavonoids contents were found to be highest in A. altilis. Conclusions: Extracts of A. altilis and F. exasperata are potent antioxidative agents with strong radical scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.