Evaluation of chemical constituents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of n-hexane extract of Viscum album L. (Mistletoe) leaves

Abstract

Viscum album L. (Mistletoe) is used in ethnomedicine for the management of some ailments ranging from inflammation, pains and oxidative stress. The phytoconstituents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of n-hexane extract of mistletoe leaves (nHEML) were evaluated in this study. nHEMLwas obtained from fresh leaves of Viscum album L. using a Soxhlet extractor.Total phenol and flavonoid compositions were assayed using standardcolourimetric methods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)analysis was used to ascertain the presence of phytochemicals in the extract. Theantioxidant property was determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while the anti-inflammatoryproperty was investigated using membrane stabilization (hypotonicity) andheat-induced hemolysis of human red blood cell (HRBC) assays. The resultsshowed a high amount of total phenolic content (37.82 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g) andtotal flavonoid content (128.85 ± 3.85 mgQE/100mg). GC-MS analysis showedthe presence of essential phytoconstituents including phytosterols, vitamin C,fatty acids etc., with known potent biological activities. In vitro, the antioxidantassay showed that DPPH scavenging activity of nHEML was only detected at400μg/ml with 13.46%, while there was a dose-dependent increase in FRAPactivity of nHEML from 50 to 400μg/ml compared to the standard. For the in vitroanti-inflammatory assay, there was a dose-dependent increase in HRBCmembrane stabilization and anti-hemolytic activities, which were higher thanthose of the standards at 200 and 400μg/mL. nHEML contains a significant amountof flavonoids which improved the anti-inflammatory activities against hypotonicand heat-induced inflammation, hence justifying its potential as a possibleanti-inflammatory agent.