Phytochemical Screening and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Henna Leaves (Lawsonia inermis)
L. C. Chuku
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
N. C. Chinaka *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Dada Damilola
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In traditional West African setting, plants are commonly used for cosmetic and medicinal benefits such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiparasitic effect of which Henna (Lawsonia inermis), a natural occurring plant of the lythraceae family is not an exception. A preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening and anti-inflammatory properties of Lawsonia inermis leaves extracted with N-butanol and ethyl acetate was investigated. Standard analytical procedures were observed, and statistical analysis using ANOVA version 20.0 was conducted to analyze for mean ± standard deviation (SD) and the least significant difference (LSD) obtained from the study. Results revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides; while In vivo anti-inflammatory activity wasobserved on a week old cockerel chicks induced carrageenan inflammation post extract administration, using aspirin tablet as control. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract as portrayed could be attributed to the plants rich phytochemical potential.
Keywords: Chicks, cockerel, ethyl acetate, inflammation, phytochemicals, N-butanol.