Comparative Study of the Phytochemistry and Anti-hemorrhoidal Activity of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Persea americana Mill. Seeds and Nephrolepis biserrata
Franck Yovo
Kaba Research Laboratory in Chemistry and Applications (LaKReCA), University of Technical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM), PO Box: 266 Natitingou, Republic of Benin.
Alban Gouton Houngbeme
Organic and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kindia, Campus B, P.O. Box 212, Republic of Guinea.
Armelle Sabine Yélignan Hounkpatin
Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation, Toxicology and Environmental Health (HECOTES), Interfaculty Center for Training and Research in the Environment for Sustainable Development (CIFRED), University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
Louis Fagbohoun
Kaba Research Laboratory in Chemistry and Applications (LaKReCA), University of Technical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM), PO Box: 266 Natitingou, Republic of Benin.
Amoussatou Sakirigui
*
Kaba Research Laboratory in Chemistry and Applications (LaKReCA), University of Technical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM), PO Box: 266 Natitingou, Republic of Benin.
Victorien Dougnon
Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances (URMAPha), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Joachim Gbenou
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Essential Oils (LaPHE), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques (FAST)/University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Georges Accrombessi
Laboratory of Physical and Synthetic Organic Chemistry (LaCOPS), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques (FAST)/University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Hemorrhoids are a common condition affecting many adults and significantly reduce quality of life, while conventional treatments are often costly and less accessible. This has led to growing interest in plant-based alternatives like Nephrolepis biserrata and Persea americana seeds, which show anti-inflammatory potential but lack sufficient direct clinical evidence.
Aims: This study aims to compare the anti-hemorrhoidal efficacy of Persea americana seed extracts (SPA) and Nephrolepis biserrata (NB) in rats by evaluating inflammatory, hepatic, and morphological parameters.
Study Design: A randomized experimental study in rats with induced hemorrhoids compared the anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and clinical effects of Persea americana seeds and Nephrolepis biserrata extracts obtained via 30/70 water-ethanol extraction.
Place and Duration of Study: Chemical and biological analyses were conducted at LaKReCA (UNSTIM) and URMAPha (University of Abomey-Calavi), in Republic of Benin, between January and December 2025.
Methodology: the phytochemical, antioxidant, and anti-hemorrhoidal properties of Persea americana seeds. The hydroethanolic extract (Water/Ethanol: 30/70) was obtained by maceration. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted to identify secondary metabolites. Biologically, the parameters measured after 5 days of treatment in Wistar rats included total protein levels (protidemia), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ASAT and ALAT levels, as well as variations in the recto-anal coefficient.
Results: Nephrolepis biserrata (NB) shows a higher extraction yield (16.36%) than Persea americana seeds (SPA) (14.36%), while SPA contains more total polyphenols (289.6 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram versus 75 mg). However, NB has a higher flavonoid content (38.5 mg quercetin equivalents per gram versus 35.76 mg) and stronger antioxidant activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 9.13 × 10⁻³ mg/mL compared to 1.93 × 10⁻² mg/mL for SPA. In treated rats, NB at 250 mg/kg significantly improved inflammatory and biochemical parameters, reducing erythrocyte sedimentation rate from 4.66 to 2, stabilizing serum proteins, and improving liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase 88.7; aspartate aminotransferase 172.19). It also showed better recto-anal coefficient normalization (0.001558) than SPA. Overall, NB at 250 mg/kg was the most active fraction, although SPA at 500 mg/kg showed partial hepatoprotective effects.
Conclusion: Both extracts exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but NB at 250 mg/kg demonstrates the best overall therapeutic efficacy.
Keywords: Anti-hemorrhoidal, Persea americana seeds, Nephrolepis biserrata, phytochemical, antioxidant.