Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of flavonoid-rich seed extract of buchholzia coriacea engler (Capparaceae)

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of the Buchholzia coriacea seed flavonoidrich extract were evaluated. The in vitro anti-inflammatory studies for the extract were done using protease inhibition activity, membrane stabilization, and albumin denaturation inhibition assays, and the antioxidant activity was performed via determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitric oxide (NO) and 2-2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity assays as well as its total antioxidant capacity. The ethanol flavonoid-rich extract of B. coriacea seed (10 – 50 μg/ml) effectively inhibited the denaturation of albumin. The inhibition by the extract was concentration-dependent, with 10 μg/ml having an inhibition of 37.30% and 50 μg/ml with the highest inhibition of 73.41%. The inhibitory ability of the extract on protease increased significantly (p 0.05) with increasing concentration. The extract at 50 μg/ml showed the highest inhibition of 50.08% compared to the standard drug at the same concentration, with inhibition of 39.54%. The flavonoid-rich extract of the seeds of B. coriacea, like indomethacin, significantly (p 0.05) protected the human erythrocyte membrane against lyses induced by hypotonic solution when compared to the control. The plant extract at different concentrations significantly (p 0.05) inhibited the oxidative stress caused by H₂O₂, DPPH, and NO radicals compared to the control. The extract demonstrated a good antioxidant capacity and thus could be employed as an antioxidant. The results obtained for the extract's in vitro anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities could be why it is used in folkloric medicine.