Sains Malaysiana 52(1)(2023): 211-222

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5201-17

A Comparative Study of Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Activities of Green and Red Christia vespertilionis Leaves

 (Kajian Perbandingan Sifat dan Aktiviti Anti-Keradangan Daun Christia vespertilionis Hijau dan Merah)

IZZAH FARHAH ZAMBARI¹, NUR AIRINA MUHAMAD^1,* & SITTI RAHMA ABDUL HAFID²

¹Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Nutrition Unit, Product Development and Advisory Services Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 27 May 2021/Accepted: 5 October 2022

Abstract

Christia vespertilionis is a plant traditionally used to treat various diseases, including inflammation. This study aims to compare and analyze the anti-inflammatory properties and activities of green and red C. vespertilionis leaves and to determine the correlation between the protease inhibition assay and phenolic content. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cardenolides, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and steroids in green and red leaves. Green leaf had the highest anti-inflammation potential, with a high extraction yield (6.39 ± 0.01%), phenolic content (29.25 ± 0.50 mg) gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/mL), flavonoid content (1.57 ± 0.03 mg quercetin acid equivalent [QE]/mL) and tannin content (22.70 ± 3.15 mg tannic acid equivalent [TAE]/mL). Green leaf contained more anti-inflammatory compounds, including n-hexadecanoic acid, phytol, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid (Z, Z, Z)- and squalene. The protease inhibition assay showed that green leaf had anti-inflammatory activity at 66.55 ± 2.59% with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 284.59 ± 10.63 µg/mL. The green leaf showed a significant positive correlation between the protease inhibition assay and phenolic content, with R² = 0.6821. We conclude that both green and red C. vespertilionis types have the potential to act as anti-inflammatory agents, but green leaves are preferable.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Christia vespertilonis; green; phytochemical compounds; red

Abstrak

Christia vespertilionis ialah salah satu tanaman yang digunakan secara tradisi untuk merawat pelbagai penyakit termasuk keradangan. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk membandingkan dan menganalisis sifat dan aktiviti anti-keradangan ekstrak daun C. vespertilionis hijau dan merah serta untuk mengkaji hubungan antara ujian perencatan protease dan kandungan fenol. Analisis fitokimia awal menunjukkan adanya alkaloid, tanin, saponin, kardenolid, fenol, kardiak glikosida, flavonoid dan steroid pada daun hijau dan merah. Daun hijau dikenal pasti sebagai yang paling berkesan untuk potensi anti-keradangan dan menunjukkan hasil pengekstrakan tinggi (6.39 ± 0.01%), kandungan fenol (29.25 ± 0.50 mg asid galik setara [GAE]/mL), kandungan flavonoid (1.57 ± 0.03 mg asid kuersetin setara [QE]/mL) dan kandungan tanin (22.70 ± 3.15 mg asid tanik setara [TAE]/mL). Daun hijau mengandungi lebih banyak sebatian anti-keradangan, iaitu asid n-heksadekanoik, fitol, 9, 12, asid 15-oktadekatrienoik, (Z, Z, Z)- dan squalene. Daun hijau juga menunjukkan aktiviti anti-keradangan yang tinggi seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh ujian perencatan protease iaitu 66.55 ± 2.59% dengan nilai kepekatan perencatan separuh maksimum (IC₅₀) iaitu 284.59 ± 10.63 µg/mL. Hubungan positif yang signifikan antara ujian perencatan protease dan kandungan fenol pada daun hijau menunjukkan R² = 0.6821. Kesimpulannya kedua-dua jenis daun, C. vespertilionis hijau dan merah berpotensi bertindak sebagai agen anti-keradangan, tetapi daun hijau menunjukkan hasil yang lebih baik.

Kata kunci: Anti-keradangan; Christia vespertilonis; hijau; merah; sebatian fitokimia

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^*Corresponding author; email: nurairina@um.edu.my