Phytochemical Screening, Quantification and the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Methanolic Extract of Ocimum gratissimum Leaves

Felister Rugalabamu

School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

Ocimum gratissimum belongs to the family Lamiaceae. Folkore medicine claims its use in anti­ inflammatory condition. The aim of this work is to extract, analyze and quantify the phytoactive constituents and evaluate the anti – inflammatory effect. Extraction of the plant material was done in aqueous by maceration and then successively extracted in hexane, chloroform and methanol by sohxlet apparatus. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out to determine the active constituents in different solvent extract. Phytochemical quantification was done in the crude powder to determine the amount of saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum was evaluated in the egg albumin -induced rat paw oedema. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of flavonoids in all solvent extracts and some selective secondary metabolites in other solvent extract. The crude powder shows highest amount of saponins and moderate amounts of tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The methanolic extract at 100 – 400 mg/kg demonstrated a dose dependent and significant inhibition (p<0.05) of oedema in the egg albumin -induced oedema in rats. This research contributed to the knowledge of the phytochemicals present and the anti-inflammatory activity of Ocimum gratissimum leaves.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Ocimum gratissimum, phytovhemicals, egg albumin

CITE AS: Felister Rugalabamu (2024). Phytochemical Screening, Quantification and the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Methanolic Extract of Ocimum gratissimum Leaves. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 3(1):90-96.