PHYTOCHEMICAL, PROXIMATE AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY EVALUATION OF AQUEOUS ETHANOL SEED EXTRACT OF AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA
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Abstract
This study analysed the phytochemical and proximate compositions of the aqueous ethanol extract of Aframomum melegueta (Paradise) seeds. The antiinflammatory activity was also investigated using inhibition of agar-induced rat-paw edema and stabilization of bovine erythrocyte membrane as the indices. The extract (1000.0 and 1500.0 mg/kg body wt), standard drug (indomethacin, 5.0mg/kg body wt.) and control (distilled water, 1.0 ml/kg wt.) were administered orally to four different groups of animals (A, B, C, and D respectively, n=5). The effect of the extract on cell membrane integrity was compared to that of ibuprofen and indomethacin. Phytochemical and proximate analyses were carried out using conventional methods. Results showed high content of phytosterols (360.15 mg/100g), alkaloids (227.0mg/100g) and flavonoids (64.86 mg CE/100g) in A. melegueta seeds. It also contained moisture (3.47%), crude protein (4.93%), total lipids (2.60%), ash (2.54%), crude fibre (14.01%) and total carbohydrates (72.45%). Maximum reduction (62%) in rat-paw edema was observed at the sixth hour of the inflammatory response at both doses of the extract tested. Membrane stabilization ability was demonstrated at 5.0 and 10.0mg/ml of the extract. The extract was more efficacious at lower dose (i.e 77.9% inhibition of membrane lysis). The standard drug, ibuprofen, was more potent in stabilizing erythrocyte membrane than indomethacin and the extract. These findings therefore validate the efficacy of A. melegueta seed extract as an antiinflammatory agent. Stabilization of lysosomal membrane could be one of its mechanisms of action. This biological activity may lie in its phytosterol content.
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