Abstract:
Background: Sida cordifolia (Babila, Malvaceae) and Phyllanthus debillis (Pitawakka,
Euphoribiaceae) have been used in the Sri Lankan ayurvedic medicinal preparations due to
their anti-inflammatory activity. However, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of these plants
has not been studied scientifically.
Objective: To determine the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of ethanol, aqueous and hexane
extracts of Sida cordifolia (Babila) and Phyllanthus debillis (Pitawakka)
Method: The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the heat induced membrane
stabilization assay against diclofenac sodium as the positive control. Percentages of human red
blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization of different concentrations of ethanol, hexane and
aqueous extracts of the plant were calculated. Haemolysis was measured at 540 nm wave
length and the percentage inhibition of haemolysis was calculated. Qualitative phytochemical
screening was carried out to identify the phytochemicals present in the two aqueous plant
extracts. Statistical analyses were performed by ANOVA. p <0.05 was considered as
statistically significant.
Results: Ethanol, aqueous and hexane extracts of Phyllanthus debillis showed 80.52%,
65.00% and 27.98% protection, respectively compared to diclofenac sodium (96.19%) at a
dose of 1000 µg/mL. The potency of roots extract of Sida cordifolia was compared with
diclofenac sodium (96.19%) and it showed 79.16%, 54.86%, 25.68% protection for ethanol,
aqueous and hexane extracts at a dose of 1000 µg/mL in the in-vitro HRBC membrane
stabilization assay respectively. All the extracts showed a dose dependent significant (p <0.01)
anti-inflammatory activity in human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay.
Phytochemical analysis revealed that proteins and saponins were absent in the two plant
extracts. The two extracts showed positive results for tannins, reducing sugars and flavonoids.
Conclusions: Ethanol extract of both plants showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity
compared to hexane and aqueous extracts. Phytochemicals identified responsible for the effect
and further analysis involving fractionation and identification of active constituents would
allow to identify the compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of Sida cordifolia
and Phyllanthus debillis.
