In vitro Antioxidant and effects of ethanol extract of <I>Syzygium aromaticum</I> on Gastrointestinal smooth muscle

Abstract

Background: Syzygium aromaticum (Family: Myrtaceae) has long been used to treat a range of gastrointestinal conditions, including chronic diarrhea, flatulent colic, and gastric irritation. Due to the numbing action, fried Syzygium aromaticum flower buds combined with honey have been used for years to prevent vomiting. The objective of this study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents, in vitro antioxidant and the effect of ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum on isolated rabbit jejunum.

Method: Standard techniques were used to determine the phytochemical screening of ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum (EESA) flower buds. Total antioxidant contents (TAC) and 1,1-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging were the in vitro antioxidant activities evaluated against EESA utilizing conventional methods, at concentrations of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 μg/mL. Atropine (0.1 μg/mL) and acetylcholine (0.1 μg/mL) were employed as a standard anticholinergic and agonist respectively, in rabbit jejunum to screen the extract utilizing isolated rabbit jejunum. The rabbit jejunum's spontaneous amplitude and frequency were measured following the administration of an ethanol extract from Syzygium aromaticum, at the concentrations' of (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/mL).

Results: Terpenoid, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and saponins were detected by phytochemical screening. Against total antioxidant substances, the EESA's activity was 3.11±0.60 mg ASCE/g. The scavenging activity of EESA 250 μg/mL against the DPPH radical was lower than that of other concentrations, with an IC value of 212.87 (μg/mL). When compared to the relaxation 50 response, all extract concentrations inhibited acetylcholine-induced intestinal motility in a manner that was strikingly similar to that of a common anticholinergic agent (Atropine). This suggests that our extract may have worked by binding and blocking muscarinic receptors in the gastrointestinal tract's smooth muscles, hence inhibiting intestinal contractions mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system.

Conclusion: Accordingly, our findings imply that the ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum contains significant levels of phenolic compounds, which demonstrated strong antioxidant properties and may aid in halting the development of different oxidative stressors. Furthermore, EESA's active ingredients have potent anticholinergic qualities, which promises well for the creation of a novel
anticholinergic medication with few adverse effects that could help treat a range of intestinal disorders.