Abstract
Oxidative stress is a critical etiologic factor and driver of inflammatory responses, witnessed in chronic and persistent conditions. The current anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with detrimental effects, high dependence, high costs, inaccessibility, among other drawbacks; therefore, a need for alternatives is imperative. Despite the remarkable potential of medicinal plants, there are scanty empirical studies on their pharmacologic efficacy. The Phytexponent is an alcoholic polyherbal preparation of Allium sativum, Triticum repens, Echinacea purpurea, Viola tricolor and Matricaria chamomilla. In complementary medicine, the Phytexponent is used to boost immunity, to treat inflammatory disorders, oxidative stress, blood pressure, diabetes, stress/depression, among other conditions. However, there is no sufficient scientific data to support these healing claims. Therefore, in the current study evaluated the in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities and qualitative phytochemical composition of the Phytexponent. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using the inhibition of protein denaturation and the human erythrocyte (HRBC) membrane stabilization techniques. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-picryl-1-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging-, the hydroxyl radical scavenging- and catalase activities. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures. The results showed a significantly higher percentage inhibition of heat-induced- and hypotonicity induced HRBC hemolysis by the Phytexponent at concentrations of 50 % and 100 %, compared with the percentage inhibitions of etanercept (p<0.05). No significant differences in percentage inhibitions of protein denaturation were observed among concentrations of 12.5 %,25.0 %,50.0 %,100.0 % of the Phytexponent and etanercept (25 mg/ml) (p˃0.05). Furthermore, the Phytexponent demonstrated high antioxidant activities against the DPPH- (IC50=0.00733%) and the hydroxyl- (IC50 = 0.716 %) radicals in vitro.The Phytexponent recorded significantly higher catalase activities at concentrations of 1 % and 0.1 % than those recorded by ascorbic acid at similar concentrations. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, among other antioxidant associated phytochemicals. The bioactivities of the Phytexponent reported herein, were attributed to the presence of these phytochemicals. Further studies to establish specific mode(s) through which the Phytexponent exerts in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects are encouraged. Moreover, in vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities should be done to determine the replicability of these findings in vivo. Bioassay-guided isolation of compounds responsible for the reported bioactivities herein should be done.
The Bioactive Potential of Functional Products and Bioavailability of Phenolic Compounds
