Potential Investigation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities in in-vitro Root tubers of Holostemma annulare (Roxb.) K Schum

Abstract

Holostemma annulare is a twining perennial shrub belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae with therapeutic and pharmacological potentialities. The root tuber of the plant is rich in antioxidants and has been suggested as potential source of anti-inflammatory compounds. Thus, this study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic in-vivo and in-vitro root tuber extracts of the H. annulare with widespread use in folk medicine. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide scavenging and reducing power activity assays. In addition, in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol root tuber extracts was evaluated by proteinase inhibition assay, cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) assays. The results revealed that in-vitro root tuber extracts possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities to the extent of in-vivo tubers and thus can be explored as an important source of novel antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. This application also emphasizes the potential utilization of in-vitro tubers of the species for drug formulations.