Anti-oxidant Assessment of Parsonsia straminea (R.Br) F. Muell Stem Bark Crude Extract

Background: Parsonsia straminea a member of the Apocynaceae family with ancestral record from Australia especially at the tropical region of New South Wales and Queensland has been scientifically been proven for its anti-seizure, anti-narcoleptic potentials, and traditionally use for seizures and movement disorders management among other unconfirmed claims. However, no record of its antioxidant rating, knowing the crucial physiological role of antioxidant in maintaining health of humans. This study evaluated the anti-oxidant of P. straminea stem bark crude extract (PSE).

Methods: Animals were grouped into six (n=5), they were orally treated with 0.2 ml/kg of distilled water as vehicle (VEH) control, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 mg/kg of PSE for 1 day (acute) and 0.2 ml/kg of distilled water as vehicle (VEH) control, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of PSE for 14 days (sub-acute). At the end of the treatments, serum, liver, kidney and brain were surgically removed according to prescribed methods of antioxidant assay protocol for the in vivo: Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT), Supra-oxide Dismutase (SOD), Malonaldehyde (MDA), Myeloperoxidase (MPO) methods of anti-oxidant assessment. Secondary metabolites determination methods of phytochemical determination as well as in vitro: Ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) & Ion chelating were done using crude extract of P.straminea stem bark.

Results: The phytochemical evaluation indicates the presence of terpenoids, saponin, flavonoids, phlobatannins, phenolics, alkaloids, steroids, triterpene, phytosterols, and tannin. The in vitro method related parameters revealed remarkable free radical scavenging abilities in an increasing order while the in vivo also showed significant (P<0.05) increase in GSH, CAT, SOD, and decrease in MDA, MPO when compared with the control.

Conclusion: This study suggested that there is anti-oxidant possibilities of P. straminea stem bark through the in vitro and in vivo models in acute and sub-acute phases of exposure.