Evaluation Of In-Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflamatory And Anti-Diabetic Effects Of Ethanol Leaf Extract Of Chromolaena Odorata On Male Albino Rats:-Iwundu, Cynthia C

ABSTRACT Chromolaena odorata belonging to the Asteraceae family is a plant with diverse medicinal properties. The in-vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effect ofthe ethanol extract ofthe plant was studied. For the antioxidant study, the DPPH radical scavenging activity, anti-lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide scavenging activities were evaluated using vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) as control. The extract was found to have a concentration dependent activity in all antioxidant parameters each having the highest percentage inhibition activity of 91.43 ±5.35, 86.03 ± 6.49 and 69.90 ± 3.05 for DPPH, anti-lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide scavenging activities respectively. The anti-inflammatory study was carried out using 14 animals, divided into 7 groups of 2 animals each. 2 groups served as positive and negative control while the remaining groups received different concentrations ofthe extract. The positive control received Indomethacin (5mg/kg) The result for the anti-inflammatory study showed that C. odorata leaf extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced egg albumin induced oedematous inflammation in a dose dependent manner after 3 hours of induction. After 3 hours, groups treated with 1000, 500, 250, 125 and 62.5 mg/ml ofthe extract had their mean paw sizes as 0.42 ± 0.03, 0.50 ± 0.15, 0.52 ± 0.03, 0.59 ± 0.10, and 0.56 ± 0.50 respectively while the negative control had their mean paw size as 0.79 ± 0.01. The antidiabetic study was evaluated using 19 animals; a total of 7 groups, 4 test groups and 3 control groups. Groups 1-6 were given a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of alloxan monohydrate to induce diabetes. Group 7 was the negative control. Treatment commenced when blood glucose level of the rats were above 200mg/dl. Groups 1-4 received different concentrations of the extract 1000, 500, 250, and 125mg/kg, group 5 (positive control) received the standard drug Glibenclamide (5mg/kg) while the negative control received no treatment at all. By the end of the administration the test groups (groups 1-4) showed a significant reduction in blood sugar levels (92.50 ± 13.44, 61.67 ± 9.87, 89.67 ± 13.32, 128.33 ± 24.85) which returned to normal although group 4 which received the lowest dose still had mild hyperglycemia. In conclusion, the result ofthis study shows that the ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties making it an effective therapeutic agent against oxidative stress, inflammation and diabetes mellitus.