Research Article
Tiew Wah Peng, P’ng X
Abstract
The present study aims to evaluate in vitro free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of Clinacanthus nutans and the effect of the extract on liver and kidney function parameters in normal rats. The free radical scavenging activity was estimated by using DPPH assay. The methanol extract was administered orally at a single dose of 2 g?kg−1 of body weight to female Sprague Dawley rats, and were monitored for 14 days. Blood samples were collected from each rat on day-15 after overnight fasting under light ether anesthesia. Blood serum was separated by centrifugation and used for biochemical analyses. The extract showed dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 1.33 ± 0.001 mg/ml. Single dose oral administration of C. nutans leaves extract at 2 g/kg dose did not produce any toxic signs or deaths in female SD rats. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in alanine aminotranferease (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) , alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubins, urea and creatinine levels between treatment rats and control rats. Infra red (IR) analysis of the extract showed the presence of C-O stretch, C=O stretch and OH band. The UVvisible absorption spectrum confirmed that the extract contains UV-active compounds