Therapeutic Promise of Aqueous Extract of Portulaca oleracea L.: Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
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Date
2025-08
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Oxidative stress is an imbalance in which oxidants exceed antioxidants in the body's
defense system. Several chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular
disorders and cancer are caused by oxidative stress. Inflammation refers to biological
responses caused by oxidative stress, toxic substance, irradiation and pathogens. Synthetic
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs already on the market are linked to adverse
effects, necessitating the need for an alternative medicinal approach. Portulaca oleracea is
used by communities living in Embu County to manage inflammation. Nevertheless, the
scientific data to confirm this claim was lacking. This study aimed to assess in vitro
antioxidant and ex vivo anti-inflammatory effects, including qualitative phytochemical
analysis of Portulaca oleracea. Fresh plant sample was obtained from Embu County,
Kenya. The sample was air-dried, milled, macerated with water and then freeze dried to
obtain a solid extract. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging,
H2O2 radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content
(TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were among the antioxidant assays that were
performed according to standard methods. The antioxidant assays used the extract at
concentrations of 7, 15, 31, 62, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/ml. In antioxidant assays,
ascorbic acid was utilized as the standard. The standards that were used in TFC and TPC
assays were rutin and gallic acid, respectively. The ex vivo anti- inflammatory assays
included hypotonicity-induced hemolysis, heat-induced hemolysis, albumin denaturation
and anti-proteinase activity. Indomethacin was utilized as reference drug in the ex vivo antiinflammatory assays. The extract and reference drug used concentrations of 7, 15, 31, 62,
125, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/ml. Standard procedures were used to conduct a qualitative
phytochemical analysis. Analyzed data was summarized using mean and the standard error
of the mean. Statistical differences between the different concentrations were evaluated
using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparisons. Effects of ascorbic
acid/Indomethacin and the extract were compared statistically using independent T-test. If
p value was <0.05, statistical results were deemed significant. This study found that
Purslane oleracea extract possesses potent in vitro antioxidant effect through FRAP, as
well as DPPH radical scavenging and H2O2 radical scavenging activities. The extract also
revealed considerable amount of TPC and TFC, which are linked with antioxidant effects.
The extract also demonstrated ex vivo anti-inflammatory effect via inhibitions of:
hypotonicity-induced hemolysis, heat-induced hemolysis, albumin denaturation, as well
anti-proteinase activity. A concentration- dependent response was seen in the extract's in
vitro antioxidant and ex vivo anti- inflammatory activities. For instance, at the highest
concentration of extract(1000 µg/ml), the extract had its highest percentage inhibition on
heat-induced hemolysis (72.65%) and its lowest inhibitory percentage (27.14%) at the
lowest concentration of(7µg/ml) Phytocompounds including flavonoids, alkaloids,
steroids, saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and phenolic acids were
detected in the extract according to a qualitative phytochemical analysis. These
phytocompounds were linked to the two activities mentioned in this study. The current
study concluded that the extract possesses potent in vitro antioxidant and ex vivo antiinflammatory effects. The study recommends that the aqueous extract of Purslane oleracea
can be used to develop alternative anti- inflammatory and antioxidant agents.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Biochemistry) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, August, 2025