In-vitro Anti-lipoxygenase and Membrane Stabilization Activity of Crude Extracts of Euphorbia lateriflora (Schum and Thonn)

Aims: This study was aimed at evaluating the in-vitro anti-inflammatory potential of crude extracts of Euphorbia lateriflora.

Place of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Methodology: The in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of E. lateriflora were evaluated via anti-lipoxygenase and red cell membrane stabilization assays using spectrophotometric technique.

Results: The aqueous and ethanol extracts demonstrated significant anti-lipoxygenase activity with the aqueous extracts (IC50: 0.34 mg/ml) and the ethanol extracts (IC50: 0.25 mg/ml), showing comparable activity with standard indomethacin (0.27 mg/ml). Contrary to what was observed in the anti-lipoxygenase study, the aqueous extract demonstrated a better membrane stabilization activity with IC50 (1.13 mg/ml) than the ethanol extracts (5.44 mg/ml). The standard diclofenac drug had an IC50 of 1.02 mg/kg. Both the aqueous and the ethanol extracts demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Conclusion: Observation from this study established the considerable anti-inflammatory potential of this plant by inhibiting lipoxygenase activity and stabilization the membrane of the red blood cells.