Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of Dialium dinklagei Harms. (Leguminosae)

Gina Ramos; Elikplim Kwesi Ampofo; Abraham Yeboah Mensah; Francis Mainoo Sarpong; Isaac Kingsley Amponsah

Authors

Gina Ramos Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Elele Rivers State, Nigeria.
Elikplim Kwesi Ampofo Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Abraham Yeboah Mensah Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Francis Mainoo Sarpong Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana
Isaac Kingsley Amponsah Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Keywords:

Oedema, DPPH radical, Carrageenan, Total antioxidant capacity, phytochemicals

Abstract

Dialium dinklagei is a plant used in the management of pain, arthritis, rheumatism, pulmonary diseases and as a laxative in Ghanaian folklore medicine. However, there is no scientific validation of these pharmacological activities. Therefore, in this research, the anti-oedematogenic and antioxidant activity of a hydro-ethanolic extract of D. dinklagei was evaluated. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was done by the carrageenan induced oedema in 7 days old chicks. The antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro by the DPPH radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity assays. D. dinklagei exhibited a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with ED₅₀ of 10.6 mg/kg body weight compared to diclofenac sodium (ED₅₀ = 4.03 mg/kg body weight). It showed considerable antiradical activity (EC₅₀ = 39.6) and a total antioxidant capacity of 581.58 mg of vitamin C per gram of extract. The phytochemicals tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids present in the plant could be responsible for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, the present study has given scientific credence to the use of D. dinklagei in ethnomedicine for the management of painful inflammatory conditions.