Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Anti-Arthritic, Anti-Inflammatory and Bactericidal Potentials of the Leaf Extract of Lactuca teraxacifolia

Abstract

Lactuca taraxacifolia is an important medicinal plant used locally in the treatment or prevention of many human diseases and illnesses. The aim of the study was to investigate the chemical composition, pH, TPC, TFC, TAA, carotenoid, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal activities. These were measured using GC-MS, pH meter, Folin-Ciocalteu’s, AlCl3, 2,4-DNPH, acetone-hexane, DPPH, PTAC, BSA and agar-well diffusion methods respectively. The pH of the aqueous solution was 6.06. The GC and GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of 47 organic compounds making up 81.45% of the total percentage composition of the extract. The most abundant components were palmitic acid (8.5%), methyl-11-octadecenoate (7.7%), erythritol (7.5%), glycerol (6.5%), linolelaidic acid, methyl ester (6.2%) and phytol (5.5%). The TPC, TFC, TAA, β-carotene, lycopene values were 3,041.50 ±0.00 μgmg-1 GAE, 59.05±0.00 μgmg-1 QE, 47.88±0.00 μgmg-1 AAE, 0.50 mgg-1and 0.20 mgg-1, respectively. The antioxidant IC50 and AAI values of the leaf extract were 0.75 μgml-1 and 53.33. The extract was capable of scavenging free radicals in a range of 72.07-90.91%. The PTAC value was 903.85±0.00 μgmg-1 AAE. The extract also gave high bovine anti-arthritic/anti-inflammatory values between 40-80% with IC50 value of 0.25 mgml-1. The extract was active against all the tested bacteria with high zones of inhibition (11.0-30.0 mm). These results showed that the leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia could be used for the development of active drugs with broad activities for human being and animals.