GC-MS Analysis and in vivo Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic Activities of Phyllanthus niruri Linn and Sida acuta Burm, Used to Treat Malaria in Togo

Abstract

The use of plants in traditional medicine is an alternative solution to address the adverse effects of conventional anti-inflammatories. This study evaluated the phytochemistry, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and toxicity activities of the hydroethanolic extracts (HE) alone and the combination of Phyllanthus niruri Linn and Sida acuta Burm. Total phenolics were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, condensed tannin by the Butanol-HCl method, and flavonoid by the Aluminum chloride method. Gas chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to identify several compounds in the extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic activity, respectively, were carried out using the paw edema method in rats and pain method induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in the animal model. Acute, and subacute oral toxicity of extracts was conducted according to OECD n˚423 for the testing of chemicals and n˚407 for testing chemical products. Screening of S. acuta and P. niruri revealed that both of them contain alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenes and flavonoids, but P. niruri is richer in total phenols 14.69 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g; proanthocyanidins 4.42 ± 0.01 mg CE/g; and flavonoids 264.21 ± 3.64 mg RE/g. GC-MS analysis was presented for S. acuta 13 and P. niruri 19 compounds. The compounds most represented are levoglucosan (16.01%) and neophytadiene (10.48%) for S. acuta and 2-[(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl) methyl]-4-methoxy-4-oxobutanoicacid (24%), and (3R,4R)-3-(Benzo[d][1,3] dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-4-(3,4 dimethoxybenzyl) dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (18.34%) for P. niruri . The concentration of 400 mg/kg recorded the best anti-inflammatory activity. The analgesic effect’s results showed that the hydroethanolic compound at a concentration of 800 mg/kg recorded the highest percentage inhibition (71.60% ± 5.32%) by the oral route. Toxicity results showed that the extracts alone and in combination also did not exhibit signs of toxicity. These results therefore validate the use of S. acuta and P. niruri in traditional medicine.