Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Phytochemical Analysis of Detarium Microcarpum Stem Bark Fractions

Chronic inflammation represents a significant global health burden implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and autoimmune conditions. The limitations of conventional Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as adverse effects and diminishing efficacy, necessitate the investigation of alternative therapies, particularly those derived from medicinal plants. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and chemical composition of Petroleum Ether (PE), Dichloromethane (DCM), and Hydro-Methanol (HMF) fractions of Detarium microcarpum stem bark using in vitro models and HPLC fingerprinting. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via erythrocyte membrane stabilization, inhibition of protein denaturation, and heat-induced albumin denaturation assays, with aspirin serving as the standard control. HPLC was used to identify phytoconstituents in each fraction. All fractions exhibited significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, with the DCM fraction demonstrating the most potent membrane stabilization effect with an IC50 value of 0.9524 mg/mL and the HMF fraction showing the most outstanding heat-induced protein denaturation inhibition (IC50=0.4920 mg/mL). HPLC fingerprinting revealed key anti-inflammatory phytoconstituents, including quercetin, kaempferol, lupeol, Betulinic acid, methyl gallate, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol, which were variably distributed across the fractions. The findings demonstrate that fractions of Detarium microcarpum possess significant anti-inflammatory properties, likely attributable to their rich content of flavonoids, triterpenoids, sterols, and phenolic compounds. Moreover, the identification of potent anti-inflammatory compounds underscores the plant's potential in drug discovery efforts targeting chronic diseases related to inflammation. These compounds may offer multi-targeted therapeutic benefits by modulating key pathways involved in inflammation, such as the NF-κB and COX-2 signalling pathways. Consequently, D. microcarpum fractions could be developed into lead compounds in the formulation of safer and more effective anti-inflammatory drugs.