Phytochemical, in vitro Antimicrobial, Proximate, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and Anti-hyperglycemic Activities of Root Extracts of Combretum platypterum (Welw)

Aim: This work was to determine the phytochemical, proximate, in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic activities of root extracts of Combretum platypterum.

Methods: Roots of C. platypterum were cold extracted with methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. The extracts were subjected to proximate, phytochemical analyses, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic assays.

Results: The result of proximate analysis revealed that the roots contained 73.90+0.10% carbohydrates, the mean % of fibre and ash contents were >7.00, whereas the average protein and moisture contents were >4.00. The result of qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed that alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolic compounds and carbohydrates were present in the three extracts, whereas steroids were sparingly present only in n-hexane extract. The result of antimicrobial screening indicated that B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, C. albicans and S. typhi were susceptible to the inhibitions of the three extracts in concentration-dependent manner, whereas only the n-hexane extract showed a dose-dependent inhibition against P. aeruginosa. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed good anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activity. The inhibition of α-amylase was greater with n-hexane extract.

Conclusion: the extracts showed good antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities and can be a potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic agent.