Exploring the multifaceted therapeutic potentials of Brassaiopsis palmata (leaves) through in-vitro and in-vivo approaches

Abstract

Brassaiopsis palmata, an androgynous tree from Araliaceae family, has been widely found in the Asian subcontinent, and reported to have potentiality against skin infection, and many therapeutic properties still unidentified. Here, our current investigation aims to discover the innovative pharmacological potentials of the methanol extract of B. palmata leaves (MEBPL) through in-vivo and in-vitro approaches. Several secondary metabolites were revealed throughout the qualitative phytochemical screening of the plant extracts. MEBPL exhibited strong radical scavenging properties (IC₅₀ 178.13 µg/mL) through the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and through the quantitative (phenolic and flavonoid) assays with a moderate (LD₅₀ 153.14 µg/mL) toxic effect. In anti-inflammatory screening, MEBPL showed significant dose dependent inhibitory activity; and the peak inhibition were found 78.01 ± 1.22% and 82.46 ± 1.52% at 1000 µg/mL concentration on hypotonic-induce RBC hemolysis & protein denaturation test respectively. Moreover, the plant extracts manifested moderate percentage of clot lysis (28.24 ± 2.50%) on the investigation of thrombolytic assay. The anti-nociceptive activity of MEBPL was analyzed through acetic acid and formalin induce pain tests. Both 200 and 400 mg/kg dose of MEBPL exerted significant (p ˂ 0.001) dose depending depletion of acetic acid induced writhing and formalin stimulated licking test which indicated strong analgesic properties of plant extracts. In addition, the outcomes of anti-depressant evaluation suggested that treatment with both 200 and 400 mg/kg doses showed potential dose depending activity on both FST and TST model. Furthermore, the plant extracts manifested dose dependent reduction of anxiety like behaviors in the rodent model. Particularly, mice administrated with 400 mg/kg dose of MEBPL significantly (p ˂ 0.05) enhanced the percentage of entries and time spent in the open arm in EPM, and also showed the highest amount of head dipping tendency in HBT. In contrast, the outcomes of this research suggest that B. palmata could be another source of antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic, anti-nociceptive, anti-depressant, and anxiolytic agents. Further research on the mechanisms underlying bioactivities is required.