Evaluation of Membrane Stabilizing, Proteinase and Lipoxygenase Inhibitory Activities of Ethanol Extract of Root and Stem of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre

Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol extract of the stem and root of Sphenocentrum jollyanum.

Study Design: Red blood cell Membrane stabilization, anti-lipoxygenase and proteinase inhibitory activities of the extracts were assayed in-vitro as a measure of anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol extract of root and stem of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre.

Place and Duration of Study: All the work was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria between April 2015-February, 2016.

Methodology: Four hundred grams of the stem and root was extracted in batches with 90% ethanol in a soxhlet apparatus and concentrated using a rotatory evaporator. Inhibitory effect of the extracts on erythrocytes membrane stabilization, trypsin and lipoxygenase (in vitro) were used to assess anti-inflammatory properties according to standard procedures. The reactions were performed in triplicates and changes in optical density of test samples and control were measured using a 96-well micro plate reader Spectra Max 384 plus (Molecular Devices, USA) and inhibitions were calculated.

Results: The result of this study revealed that the extraction yield of the stem and root was 32.00 g and 26.00 g respectively, while the stem extract exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) higher dose dependent erythrocyte membrane stabilization when compared with the root extract with IC50 of 325±13.81 μg/ml and 541±6.33 μg/ml respectively. The Proteinase inhibitory assay showed that the stem extract demonstrated a stronger inhibitory activity to the root with IC50 1000±3.35 μg/ml and 1080±2.67 μg/ml. Lipoxygenase inhibition activity assay revealed that the stem and the root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum inhibited 50% of lipoxygenase at concentration of 426±6.33 μg/ml and 541±6.67 μg/ml respectively. Hence, the results of this study showed that S.J have some bioactive compounds which are effective in management of inflammatory disorders and thus validates the folkloric use of the plant.