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In vitro Erythrocyte Haemolysis Inhibition Properties of Senna singueana Extracts
Abstract
Both leaves and bark of Senna singueana (Del.) Lock(Fabaceae) are traditionally used, in some parts of Ethiopia, for the treatment of a form of skin cancer. Also the inner bark of the plant is chewed fresh to soothe stomach spasm and smoke from the wood and bark is used as smoke baths. The objective of this work was to study the antioxidant properties, of this plant using an erythrocyte haemolysis inhibition assay, because one way to justify the traditional anticancer uses can be through the concept of antioxidant effect. Crude extracts from leaves and bark of S. singueana were prepared by maceration with 80% methanol. Fractions were prepared from both leaves and bark using solvents of different polarity (diethyl ether, chloroform, and 80% methanol). The 80% methanol fraction was partitioned using ethyl acetate. These crude extracts and solvent fractions were then evaluated for their capacity to inhibit H2O2 induced erythrocyte haemolysis. Also to evaluate the presence of any intrinsic haemolysis inducing constituents such as saponins, foaming index determination and preliminary haemolysis activity determination tests were performed on extracts from the bark and leaves of the plant. The results revealed that the ethyl acetate solvent fraction from the bark of S. singueana exhibited concentration dependent erythrocyte haemolysis inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 233 µg/ml. However, the other solvent fractions and crude extracts did not show meaningful haemolysis inhibitory activity. The results of the foaming index determination and preliminary haemolysis activity determination tests showed the presence of saponins; but, none of the dilutions of the extracts showed any visible haemolysis activity compared to H2O2, used as a control. The results of the ethyl acetate solvent fraction from the bark of the plant could indicate the possible presence of constituents that can inhibit erythrocyte haemolysis, which in turn, could be due to lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity.
Keywords: Senna singueana, Extracts, Haemolysis Inhibition, Antioxidant