Abstract

Reissantia indica (Willd.) Halle is employed widely in African folklore medicine for the mitigation of inflammatory conditions and certain cancers. However, scientific validation of its anecdotal uses is not widespread. The study validated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the stem bark of R. indica and tracked down its active constituents. The anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroethanolic stem bark extract and isolates was evaluated using the 7-day-old chick edema model with carrageenan as the edemogenic agent. Antioxidant activity was carried out by the DPPH scavenging and total antioxidant capacity assays. Antimicrobial activity was carried out by the broth dilution method, using some Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. The stem bark extract and reference drug diclofenac showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect with respective ED50 of 33.02 ± 3.66 and 20.49 ± 2.26 mg/kg body weight. The stem bark extract showed considerably higher activities in the antioxidant and antimicrobial assays than sitosterol and arjunolic acid, isolated from R. indica. The plant demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties as suggested by folklore medicine.

Key words: Arjunolic acid, Inflammation, Microbes, Antioxidants, Spectra, Sitosterol