title: In vitroandin vivoantioxidant potentials ofAlchornea floribundaleaf extract, fractions and isolated bioactive compounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alchornea floribundaleaves are widely used in ethnomedicine for the management of immuno-inflammatory disorders. We investigated thein vivoandin vitroantioxidant activity of the leaf extract, fractions and isolated compounds ofA. floribunda.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol leaf extract was subjected to several chromatographic separations to isolate compounds 1-4. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. Oxidative stress was induced with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Further analysis on the isolated phenolic compounds were done using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethyl acetate fraction at 200 mg/kg produced significant (p<0.05) elevations of catalase enzyme activity and a significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum malondialdehyde. The chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction led to the isolation of three flavans, (-) cathechin (1), (-) epicathechin (2), (+) epicathechin (3) and a flavanone, 2R, 3R dihydroquercitin (4). In hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, (-) epicathechin exhibited an EC50value of 8 μg/ml, similar to the standard ascorbic acid (EC50= 8 μg/ml). (-) epicathechin showed scavenging of DPPH radical with EC50value of 19 μg/ml while in the FRAP assay, it had EC50value of 46 μg/ml which was lower than that of the standard, ascobic acid (EC50= 66 μg/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The medicinal uses ofA. floribundamay be due to the antioxidant activities of its phenolic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Daniel Lotanna
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ajaghaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okechukwu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Obasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Blessing Ogechukwu
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Umeokoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ogbuatu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chukwuemeka Sylvester
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Nworu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Emeka
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ilodigwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Festus Basden Chiedu
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Okoye
keywords: Alchornea floribunda; Antioxidant activity; Flavanone; Flavans