Phytochemical Investigation and Assessment of In-Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Combretum Indicum and Euphorbia Milii: A Comparative Study

Abstract

In the present research work, phytochemical investigation and in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Combretum indicum and Euphorbia milii was evaluated. In this study, we compared the effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Combretum indicum and Euphorbia milii with the standard Diclofenac sodium at equivalent concentration (100-500 µg/ml). Phytochemical screening of each plant extracts was performed. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins and terpenoids was confirmed by preliminary phytochemical screening in both plants. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using two different methods: Inhibition of egg albumin denaturation and human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay. In case of inhibition of egg albumin denaturation assay, hydroethanolic extract of Combretum indicum and Euphorbia milii leaves showed an inhibition of 85.22 and 73.04%, respectively at 500 µg/ml concentration. While standard diclofenac sodium exhibited 83.77% inhibition at 500 µg/ml concentration. Investigation showed that with the increase in concentration, both plants extract has the ability to inhibit protein denaturation significantly and is comparable with the standard diclofenac sodium. In the case of human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay, the maximum percentage of protection of haemolysis of Combretum indicum, Euphorbia milii hydroethanolic extracts and standard diclofenac sodium was found to be 82.78, 68.97 and 78.31% respectively at 500 μg/ml of concentration. There was a statistical difference in the mean of % protection of haemolysis of both plants and standard diclofenac sodium.