Pharmacological Activities of Youngia japonica Extracts

Objectives: Youngia japonica (YJA), belonging to the family asteraceae, exhibits strong antiallergic, antioxidant and antitumor activities. The present study was carried out to assess the antioxidant potentials, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and CNS depressant activities of different fractions of YJA plant extracts.

Study Design: For the purpose of this experiment the different plant extracts were subjected for an in-vitro and in-vivo study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out on March 2015 in the Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Methods: The antioxidant capacity of ethyl acetate (EA), pet ether (PET) and chloroform(CLF) extracts of YJA were investigated for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. Total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of different extracts were determined spectroscopically. Analgesic activity was evaluated by using acetic acid induced writhing, formalin test and eddy’s hot plate method. Extracts of YJA were also investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan induced hind paw edema model. The CNS depressant activity was evaluated by hole cross test.

Results: In DPPH scavenging assay, CLF exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 9.70 μg/ml). In case of hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, EA extracts showed the most significant activity (IC50 15.09 µg/ml). This result was in line up with the total phenolic content where EA extracts possessed the highest amount of it (43.92 mg of GAE / gm. of dried extract). Moreover, the highest total antioxidant activity was also found in EA fraction (109.30 GAE/gm of dried sample) that rationalizes the previous outcome. All fractions significantly (p<0.01) reduced the writhing and the number of licking in a dose dependent manner (100 and 200 mg/kg). The Extracts also showed significant (p<0.001) inhibition of carrageenan induced paw edema. A statistically significant (p<0.001) decrease in locomotor activity was also observed.

Conclusion: The result demonstrates that the YJA has appreciable antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and CNS depressant activities.