In Vivo and in Silico Antihypertensive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Analgesic Activities of Vernonia Amygdalina Del. Leaf Extracts

Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaves contain many potential active ingredients and exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. The antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of VA crude and fraction extracts were carried out using Swiss albino mice models. VAE is considered safe to be administered due to LD 50 being greater than 10,000 mg/kg body weight. A dosedependent increase in antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities was observed in both VAE and fractions, similar to the reference drugs. The antihypertensive effect of the VAE 2.0 (2000 mg/kg, SBP: ↓26.05 %, DBP: ↓34.51 %) was nearly equivalent to Captopril (100 mg/kg, SBP: ↓30.28 %, DBP: ↓40.71 %) with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The VAE 1.0 (1000 mg/kg), and EA 30 (30 mg/kg) showed potent anti-inflammatory activity when reducing the total edematous paw volume significantly (p < 0.01) by ↓65.58 %, and ↓69.34 %, respectively, similar to Ibuprofen (7.5 mg/kg, ↓67.03 %). Besides, VAE (>500 mg/kg), and W 400 (water, 400 mg/kg) fraction extracts showed a potent analgesic effect equivalent to Para 50 (paracetamol 50 mg/kg) for the highest protection (>65 %) against the acetic acid-induced writhing after 35 min. Moreover, cepharanthine, cynaroside, and vernoniosides of VA leaf extract exhibited the highest affinity (>10 kcal/mol) in anti-inflammatory and analgesic targets (iNOS and COX-2) and antihypertensive targets (ACE and β 1 adrenoreceptor). Therefore, the crude and fraction extracts of VA leaves from the percolation method and bioactive metabolites are a potential source that can be developed into antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic agents in herbal medicine.