Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of Extracts of Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae), a Plant used in Traditional Medicine for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Parasitosis

Abstract

Aims: to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of aqueous decoctation (AD), aqueous maceration (AM) and hydroethanol maceration (HEM) of the plant. Methodology: Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed to identify extracts compounds. In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant potential of the extracts was carried out by using the methods of ABTS, FRAP and LPO. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by using the 1% carrageenan anti-edema test. The analgesic test was performed with 0.6% acetic acid. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponosides, reducing compounds, coumarins and derivatives, anthocyanosides, steroids, triterpenes and flavonoids respectively.  The aqueous decoctation showed a lipid peroxidation inhibition rate of 48.30 ± 3.43%, lower than hydroethanol maceration (58.08 ± 4.65%) and aqueous maceration (60.07 ± 4.52%). In the ABTS free radical scavenging test, hydroethanol maceration had an IC50 (35.92±5.04 μg/mL) lower than aqueous decoctation (44.75±1.04 μg/mL) and aqueous maceration (46.81±0.30 μg/mL) respectively. For the ferric ion reduction assay (FRAP), aqueous decoctation had the best reducing power of 1092.30± 18.50 Eqaa(µM/mL) respectively, compared with hydroethanolic maceration 957.99± 15.49 Eqaa(µM/mL) and aqueous maceration 716.13± 48.93 Eqaa(µM/mL). The carrageenan anti-inflammatory test, at a dose of 600 mg/Kg.b.w., gave an edema inhibition rate of 70.57% for the aqueous maceration, 73.07% for the aqueous decoctation and 75.56% for the hydroethanol maceration. Finally, the analgesic test at a dose of 600 mg/Kg.b.w. showed a contortion inhibition rate of 53.41% for the aqueous maceration, 60.80% for the aqueous decoctation and 69.32% for the hydroethanol maceration.   Conclusion: These results suggest that Gomphrena serrata is a plant with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that could alleviate the effects of inflammation during parasitic infections.