Phytochemical profiling, in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Hopea ponga, Kandelia candel, Vitex leucoxylon and Rhizophora apiculata

Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of H. ponga, K. candel, V. leucoxylon and R.apiculata. Plant extraction was carried out by soxhlet extraction method with increasing polarity of solvents viz., methanol, ethanol and water. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed to investigate the phytochemical content. Antioxidant potential of the plant extracts were analyzed by four different in vitro antioxidant assays viz., ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, phosphomolybdenum, hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and DPPH assay and anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by using protein denaturation in-vitro bioassay. Phytochemical analysis of all the four experimental plants revealed that each solvent extracts contained broad spectrum of secondary metabolites including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and glycosides. Aqueous extracts of V. leucoxylon and R. apiculata exhibited the highest phenolic content; methanolic extract of K. candel exhibited highest flavonoids content and therefore possessed significant antioxidant capacity. In vitro anti-inflammatory assay revealed that methanol extract of K. candel showed highest anti-inflammatory activity, when compared to all other extracts whereas K. candel ethanol extract showed least activity. The present study revealed that different solvent extracts of H. ponga, K. candel, V. leucoxylon and R. apiculata leaves contain broad spectrum of bioactive compounds. Results confirm that aqueous extract of V. leucoxylon and R. apiculata showed significant antioxidant activity and methanol extract of K. candel showed high anti-inflammatory activity. Further study requires purification, characterization and structural elucidation of phytochemicals from these extracts that may help in the development of new drug formulations against inflammation.