Phytochemical Screening & in vitro Antioxidant and Thrombolytic Activities of Argemone mexicana Extracts”

Abstract

Purpose: In present study the leaves extracts of Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae) have been screened for their photochemical constituents, antioxidant, total phenolic content and in vitro thrombolytic activities. Methods: The n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals, using in vitro assay methods and their inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical was used to evaluate their free radical scavenging activity at 517 nm. Nitric oxide scavenging capacity was measured by sodium nitroprusside and griss reagent. The total phenolic content (TPC) measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. An in vitro thrombolytic model was used to check out the clot lysis effects of three extracts using streptokinase as a positive control. Results: Phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins. All the extracts inhibited DPPH, indicating their antioxidant activity. In DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging assay both n-hexane extract showed highest IC50 values 73.73 μg/ml, 152.73μg/ml and the lowest IC50 value was 12.54 μg/ml of ethyl acetate extract and 65.56μg/ml of methanol extract. It appears that, it has greater free radical scavenging capacity. Ethyl acetate extract had the highest total phenolic content of 106.65 mg GAE/100 g extract. All the extracts showed significant % of clot lysis effect (p<0.001) with reference to negative control. Conclusion: The outcomes of the study are an indication of present of phytochemicals and may be responsible for some of the therapeutic uses of these plants.