Bioactive constituents, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the Sub-fractions of Fadogia cienkowskii leaves Schweinf (Rubiaceae)

Background: Fadogia cienkowskii is claimed to ethnomedicinally cure general body debility, inflammation, liver diseases, oxidative stress-related diseases, diarrhoea, fever, and other ailments. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the bioactive compounds using UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopic techniques and also to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the VLC sub-fractions of Fadogia cienkowskii leaves. Methodology: The ethyl acetate fraction was fractionated using vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) (n-Hexane/ ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate/ methanol) and bulked using thin layer chromatography to obtain the VLC sub-fractions. The hepatoprotection was determined using paracetamolinduced liver damage model in rat, and antioxidant screening evaluated using both in vivo and in vitro models. The UV-VIS and FTIR analysis were carried out using standard methods. Results: The administration of the VLC sub-fractions of the leaves of F. cienkowskii at the different doses, led to significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) in the liver and antioxidant enzymes and also the DPPH free radicals. The FTIR analysis identified the presence of the following functional groups, chloro, ether, ethene, amine, ester, carboxylic, nitriles, thiocyanate, methylene and alcohol. Conclusion: The effect of the eleven (11) VLC sub-fractions led to a significant reduction (P< 0.05) in the liver and antioxidant enzymes and also the DPPH free radicals. The presence of various functional groups and phytocompounds confirm the claims by the herbalists that F. cienkowskii leaf is used in the management of liver diseases and oxidative stress related diseases.