Phytochemical screening, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of Acanthospermum hispidum and Croton zambesicus collected in the Republic of Benin

Abstract

This study aims to characterize chemical groups of metabolites in extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum and Croton zambesicus, and to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities and their immunomodulatory effect on two pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL6). The phytochemical screening was done on the powders of both plants by staining and precipitation reactions. Anti-inflammatory activity was performed in vivo on rat paw edema induced by 2% formalin and immunomodulatory activity was performed in vitro on rat Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The leaves of the plants contained important chemical groups such as: cachectic tannins, flavonoids, terpenes, saponosides and quinones. The ethanolic extracts of the two plants studied showed good anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the volume of the rat paw edema induced by 2% formalin and by inhibiting the production of TNFα, IL6 by PBMC of rats stimulated by LPS. Key words: Acanthospermum hispidum, Croton zambesicus, extracts, phytochemical screening, biological activities.