Browsing by Author "Kareru, Patrick G."

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    PublicationOpen Access
    ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND ORGANIC EXTRACTS FROM KENYAN RUELLIA PROSTRATA
    (International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 2017-03-01) Wangia, Christine O.; Jennifer A.Orwa,; Muregi, Francis W; Kareru, Patrick G.; Cheruiyot, Kipyegon; Kibet , Japheth
    Ruellia species belong to Acanthaceae family, and are perennial creepers with widespread medicinal uses including analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to determine the qualitative phytochemical constituents and anti-oxidant activity of crude extracts from whole plant parts of Kenyan Ruellia species viz. Ruellia prostrata. Whole parts of the plants were collected, air-dried under shade and organic extraction was done by cold maceration using ethyl acetate and methanol. Aqueous extraction was done by boiling. Anti- oxidant activity was performed based on the ability of the aqueous, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts to scavenge free radicals produced by 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Ascorbic acid was used as the standard. Anti-oxidant tests were done at eight concentrations (3.9, 7.8, 15.6, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 μg/ml). The anti-oxidant activity of both plant extracts and ascorbic acid increased with increase in concentration. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a higher anti-oxidant activity with IC50 values of 20.58 and 22.26 μg/ml respectively, relative to aqueous extract (IC50 of 51.92μg/ml). Ascorbic acid standard exhibited high anti-oxidant activity with IC50 value of 2.11μg/ml. The phytochemical screening tests were based on visual observation of colour change and precipitate formation. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Flavonoids and tannins are a major group of compounds that act as primary anti-oxidants. The presence of these compounds could attribute to the potent anti-oxidant activity of R. prostrata extracts. From this study, it was concluded that Ruellia prostrata could have anti-inflammatory activity.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Comparative Anti-oxidant Activity of Aqueous and Organic Extracts from Kenyan Ruellia lineari-bracteolata and Ruellia bignoniiflora
    (European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2016-11-07) Kibet, Japheth; Muregi, Francis W.; Orwa, Jennifer A.; Wangia, Christine O.; Kareru, Patrick G.; Cheruiyot, Kipyegon
    Medicinal plants play a significant role in treatment and prevention of many diseases in humans worldwide. Ruellia species belong to the family Acanthaceae and have been used widely for medicinal purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative In vitro anti-oxidant activity of two Kenyan Ruellia species viz. Ruellia lineari-bracteolata (RLB) and Ruellia bignoniiflora (RBK). The plant materials were extracted with aqueous, ethyl acetate and methanol. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening according to standard procedures and anti-oxidant activity determined using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Comparative anti-oxidant activity for methanolic, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of RLB and RBK exhibited IC50 values of (2.7, 29.3, 7.2 and 24.4, 237.2, 66.4 μg/ml) respectively. Among the three extracts, methanolic extract showed better activity (2.7 μg/ml) comparable to ascorbic standard (2.1 μg/ml). Between the two Ruellia species, RLB showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in anti-oxidant activity as compared to RBK extracts. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and glycosides. Flavonoids and tannins are the main phytoconstituents responsible for anti-oxidant activity. In conclusion, the potent anti-oxidant activity of these plants makes them useful in development of medicinal drugs for treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases.