Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, and haemolytic properties of hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts from Tabernaemontana crassa Benth. fruit.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiulcer, and cytotoxic properties of hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts from the fruits of Tabernaemontana crassa were investigated. Four phenolic compounds, including three phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids) and one flavonol (rutin), were detected by HPLC-PDA. The hydroethanol extract (HE) exhibited high antioxidant activity and inhibition of haemolysis against red blood cells. Administration of HE (200 mg kg-1) significantly decreased the paw edoema induced by carrageenan compared to diclofenac sodium (20 mg kg-1). At the same dose, HE exhibited appreciable gastric cytoprotective capacity compared to Lanzoprazole (20 mg kg-1). These results were further supported by the histological analysis. Crude fruit extracts demonstrated a low haemolytic effect against rat red blood cells. Our findings support the use of T. crassa fruit in pharmacological and therapeutic fields.