Screening of a nearly threatened woody tree species Pterospermum xylocarpum for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

Abstract

Pterospermum xylocarpumis a woody tree species belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. This plant is commonly known as “Tada Chettu” (in Telugu). It is widely distributed in India, south East Asia, Pakistan and North America. P. xylocarpumis common in deciduous forests and it is of 5-8mts tall tree. It is merely distributed in the tropical regions, found in the hills of Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu. There is no recorded evidence on its phytochemicals or its medicinal compounds; hence we preferred this massive tree species for its phytochemical & bioactive compound study. The plant was selected for the screening of crude extracts [Hexane, Chloroform, Methanol and Aqueous (Water) extracts] for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using free radical scavenging method by using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) as well as by estimating the ion reducing power through FRAP assay (Ferric reducing antioxidant power).Anti-inflammatory activity of extracts was done by using 5-Lipooxygenase inhibitory assay. Plant has shown good antioxidant activity in the methanol extract. Antioxidant activity of four extracts was determined by the two methods and IC50 was also calculated for those extracts. In the present study we have calculated the in-vitro lipoxygenase activity for the four extracts with the five concentrations. The activity of the methanol extract was good and showed equal results with standard Indomethacin.