Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Studies on the Stem Bark Extracts of Lannea microcarpa Engl. & K. Krause

Abstract

: Medicinal Plants are Plants used for traditional medicines. Any part of the plant could be used as medicine. Medicinal plants have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since pre-historical times. A survey of traditional medicine man in Damaturu indicated that Lannia microcarpa is a plants used in the treatment of inflammation, wounds and cancer. The fresh samples (stem bark) of the plant was collected and successively extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Phytochemical constituents of Lannea microcarpa extracts revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, tannins, alkaloids, sterols and terpenoids. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay, whereas membrane stabilization method was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the extracts. The antibacterial potential of the plant extracts against four (4) wound pathogens: Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Strephtococcus pneumoneae, was evaluated using disc diffusion technician. The IC 50 values obtained for the Lannea microcarpa extracts indicated that the methanol and water extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activities than the standard ascorbic acid. The extracts were found effective in inhibiting the heat induced haemolysis. Diclofenac Sodium salt used as standard drug at 100µg/ml offered 90.66% protection a significant (p<0.05) protection against damaging effect of heat solution. The results showed that all extracts from the plant offered a significant (p<0.05) protection against the damaging effect of hypotonic solution, Diclofenac sodium (100µg/ml), the standard drug offered a significant (p<0.05) protection (57.52%). Lannea microcarpa extracts showed zone of inhibition only against Salmonella typhi and Strephtococcus pneumonea.