Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric profiles,<i> in vitro</i> anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of n-butanol and aqueous fractions of ethanol leaf extract of <i>Irvingia gabonensis</i>

Irvingia gabonensis (Bush mango) leaf is reportedly used locally in the treatment and management of a myriad of pathological conditions. This study therefore investigated the GC-MS profiles, in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of n-butanol and aqueous fractions of ethanol leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis. In vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the fractions, GC-MS profiling and preliminary phytochemical screening, were done using standard methods. n-Butanol and aqueous fractions of ethanol leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis showed potent inhibition of Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as H2O2 and DPPH, at various concentrations, when compared with the reference standard drugs. The two fractions also exhibited potent reducing powers at various concentrations. Furthermore, the total phenolic contents of the n-butanol and aqueous fractions were 17.00 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g and 14.00 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g, respectively. GC-MS analyses of the n-butanol fraction revealed the presence of some bioactive phyto-compounds, the major ones being: Cycloserine; Acetic acid; 1-Butanol; Bicyclo [4.2.0] octa – 1,3,5-triene; 2,4.-Di-tert-butyl phenol and Phenol, 3,5-bis (l,ldimethyethyl) and Phensuximide. Similarly, the major bioactive compounds found in the aqueous fraction were: Propane, 2.(ethenyloxy)-; Acetic acid; Bicyclo [4.2.0] octa – 1,3,5-triene; Cetene; Cis, cis, cis – 7,10,13-Hexadecatrienal; 2,4-Di-tert-butyl phenol; Phenol, 3,5, bis (1, 1- dimethylethyl); 1 – pentadecene; v-Triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid,1-Benzyl- and Phensuximide. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the n-butanol and aqueous fractions revealed the presence of important phytochemicals. It is concluded that, n-butanol and aqueous fractions of ethanol leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis are promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents that could be vital in the mitigation of inflammation and oxidative stress.