Anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of methanolic extracts of Drypetes sepiaria (Euphorbiaceae).

The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts obtained from leaves of Drypetes sepiaria (Euphorbiaceae). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of these crude extracts were determined as gallic acid and quercetin equivalents, respectively. In in vitro antioxidant method, methanol extract exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity compared to standard compound, ascorbic acid with IC₅₀ of 95.43 µg/ml (DPPH) and 67.05 µg/ml (ABTS). Methanol extract was able to inhibit inflammation by in vitro about 85-90% (HRBC stabilization method) and in vivo about 40-45% (Paw oedema method) anti-inflammatory assays compared to standard produced 50.04% at 6 h period. In cytotoxicity assay (MTT assay) methanolic extract exhibited IC₅₀ of 10 µg/ml. In apoptosis (flow cytometric assay), the control group showed normal caspase 3 activity in the SiHa cells which was 0.24%, and increased up to 40% after treatment.