Abstract

Background: Garlic skin, a discarded byproduct of Nigeria’s 136,000-ton annual garlic production, poses an environmental challenge yet holds untapped potential as a source of bioactive compounds. Flavonoids from such waste could provide sustainable alternatives to synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs, though garlic skin’s therapeutic properties remain underexplored.
Aim: This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of a flavonoid-rich fraction from garlic skin extract (FRFGS) and evaluate its anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo. Methods: Garlic skins from Imo State farmers were methanol-extracted, partitioned with ethyl acetate to isolate FRFGS, and analyzed using FT-IR, HPLC, and GC-FID. Total flavonoid content was quantified against a quercetin standard. Anti-inflammatory activity was tested in a carrageenan-induced paw oedema rat model at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, compared to Diclofenac (50 mg/kg), with TNF-α and IL-6 levels assessed via ELISA.
Results: FRFGS yielded 32.08 ± 2.88 mg/g quercetin-equivalent flavonoids, revealing mainly silymarin, ellagic acid, catechin, luteolin, flavone, quercetin, and kaempferol through HPLC and GC-FID analysis. FT-IR detected functional groups indicative of bioactive molecules. FRFGS exhibited dose-dependent oedema inhibition, with 200 mg/kg achieving 49% reduction (p

Key words: Garlic Skin Extract; Phytochemical analysis; Bio-active compounds; Flavonoids; Anti-Inflammatory potential.