Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Extracts from Ampelocissus africana (Lour) Merr (Vitaceae) Rhizomes

Aims: To determine the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts from Ampelocissus africana (Lour) Merr rhizomes.

Study Design: Phytochemical content and screening, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Traditional Pharmacopoeia and Pharmacy (MEPHATRA / PH) of the Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IRSS) and Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry (LABIOCA), University Joseph KI-ZERBO in Ouagadougou between April and August 2020.

Methodology: The antioxidant activity of both extracts of the plant was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS+ radical cation decolorization, ferric ion reduction and lipid peroxidation inhibition in rat liver assays. The anti-inflammatory activities in vitro were measured on the ability of the extract to inhibit the activity of enzymes such as 15-lipoxygenase, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2).

Results: This study revealed that the total phenolic contents of the extracts varied from 471.79 ± 1.71 mg GAE/g to 173.88 ± 1.71 mg GAE/g for methanolic and aqueous extract respectively. The extracts were also rich in flavonoids and tannins. The methanolic extract possessed better antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 2.32 ± 0.18 µg/ml for the ABTS, 1.71 ± 0.05 µg/mL for the DPPH, a reducing power agent of 87.44 ± 0.5 mmol AAE /100 g and a percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation of 52.21%. The methanolic and aqueous extract of A. africana has an inhibitory action on activity of lipoxygenase with IC50 values of 26.09 ± 1.83 μg/mL to 34.32 ± 1.60 μg/mL, respectively. The methanolic extract caused COX-1 inhibition of 36.07%, COX-2 inhibition of 38.31% and PLA2 inhibition of 26.9%.

Conclusion: These results showed that the methanolic and aqueous extract from the rhizomes of Ampelocissus africana possessed antioxidant power, inhibitor effect against proinflammatory enzymes.