NITRIC OXIDE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF STRYCHNOS SPINOSA (LOGANIACEAE) LEAF EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS.

BACKGROUND

The study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory activity of fractions and extracts obtained from Strychnos spinosa leaves on a mediator of inflammation nitric oxide (NO).

METHODS

Leaves were extracted with acetone and separated into fractions with different polarities by solvent-solvent fractionation. The Griess assay was used to determine the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Cellular toxicity was determined by "using the MTT reduction assay".

RESULTS

With the exception of the ethyl acetate fraction which had an IC50 >750 μg/mL, all extracts and fractions had significant nitric oxide-inhibitory activity. The most active being the water fraction, chloroform fraction and the dichloromethane/methanol extracts with IC50 values of 88.43 μg/mL, 96.72 μg/mL and 115.62 μg/mL, respectively. The extracts and fractions had low cytotoxicity on macrophage U937 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Extracts and fractions of Strychnos spinosa leaves may be promising sources of natural anti-inflammatory agents. Findings obtained from this study showed that Strychnos spinosa leaves possess promising anti-inflammatory action and could be used in the treatment of inflammation-related conditions.