Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Activities of the Seeds of Mucuna flagellipes
[1]
R. I. Uchegbu, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
[2]
C. N. Mbadiugha, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
[3]
C. O. Ibe, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
[4]
I. O. Achinihu, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
[5]
C. E. Sokwaibe, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
This research work was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities of the extracts of seeds of Mucuna flagellipes. The seeds were found to have high antioxidant activities as evaluated by reducing power test. The effects of Mucuna flagellipes on the acute and chronic phases of inflammation were studied in carrageenan and formalin induced paw edema respectively. The anti-edema effect of the seeds was compared with the drug, diclofenac potassium 10mg/kg orally. Administration of M. flagellipes (10mg/kg) and diclofenac potassium (10mg/kg) decreased the edema at the rate of 11.7% and 62.00% respectively for acute inflammation, while increase in dosage of M. flagellipes (50mg/kg) showed decrease of the edema at the rate of 54.2%. Forchronic inflammation, administration of M. flagellipes (10mg/kg) and diclofenac potassium (10mg/kg) decreased the edema at the rate of 7.0% and 46% respectively, while increase in dosage of M. flagellipes (50mg/kg) showed decrease of the edema at the rate of 42.4%. Thus the crude extract exhibited significant activity in rats. The antibacterial activity was performed by filter paper disc diffusion technique. Extracts of the seeds of M. flagellipes exhibited strong antibacterial activities on all the tested organisms P. mirabilis, K. pneumonia, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E.coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the seeds was 12.5 to 25.00 mm. This indicates that M. flagellipes seeds may be used against bacterial infections, inflammation and as antioxidant in herbal medical practice.
Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Therapeutic Agents
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