Phytochemical, Quantitative Proximate and In vitro Anti-inflammatory Study of the Crude Methanol Extract of Stachytarpheta indica Leaves (Verbenaceae)

Abstract

Herbal medicine despite its increase usage globally is being plagued by inadequate research on their effectiveness. Stachytarpheta indica commonly known as snakeweed is used locally in the management of asthma, headache, alopecia, bronchitis, bruise, chest cold, constipation, itch, diarrhea, skin sore, vermifuge, dysentery, dysmenorrhea among others. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, quantitative proximate parameters and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the leaves of S. indica using established methods. Results confirmed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrate, cardiac glycosides, terpenoid, tannin, anthraquinones, phenolics and flavonoid. Moisture content (9.16 ± 0.04%), total ash (19.42 ± 0.15%), water insoluble ash (7.17 ± 0.22%), acid insoluble ash (3.63 ± 0.26%), alcohol soluble extractive (0.99 ± 0.06%) and water-soluble extractive (0.36 ± 0.02%) values were obtained from the quantitative proximate analysis. An infusion of the methanol leaf extract of Stachytarpheta indica demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner comparable to that of indomethacin standard.