Evaluation of acute toxicity and DPPH radical scavenging activity of Bauhinia racemosa leaf extract

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long been integral to traditional medicine, and Bauhinia racemosa is recognized for its therapeutic and antioxidant potential. This study evaluates the acute toxicity and antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract from B. racemosa leaves to assess its safety and therapeutic potential. Acute toxicity was assessed following Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 423 guidelines, with female Wistar rats receiving oral doses of 5, 50, 300, and 2000 mg/kg. The rats were monitored for physiological and behavioral changes over 14 days. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by determining the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride assays, respectively, and by measuring radical scavenging activity (RSA) through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. No adverse effects or mortality were observed at any dosage level, indicating the absence of acute toxicity. The TPC and TFC of the extract were 6.42 mg GAE/g and 7.39 mg QE/g, respectively. The DPPH assay revealed a dose-dependent increase in RSA, with an IC₅₀ value of 206.56 μg/mL, confirming substantial antioxidant potential. The results suggest that B. racemosa ethanolic leaf extract is both safe and potent as a natural antioxidant, supporting its potential for therapeutic applications. Further studies on chronic toxicity and bioactive compound identification are needed to fully validate its efficacy in treating oxidative stress-related diseases.