Investigation of in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Grewia tenax (forssk.) fiori leaves: An edible wild Omani plant of therapeutic importance

Introduction/Background: Free radicals such as ROS, RNS, and OH- play a critical role in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases including cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases, etc. Bioactive compounds and plant extracts with free radical scavenging properties hold significant promise for mitigating chronic disease progression. Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori a member of the Tiliaceae family, is an edible plant native to Oman. Different parts of Grewia tenax have been used as folklore medicine to treat common ailments. Aim and Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the aerial parts of Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori to validate its traditional medicinal uses. Methodology: Aerial parts (leaves; 1kg) of G. tenax were collected from wadi Al Mouyadin in the Ad-Dakhliya region of Oman. Three extracts of varying polarities were prepared using Soxhlet extractor. Extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified through colorimetric methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH free radical assay and total antioxidant capacity methods, while anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via the egg albumin denaturation method. Results: The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, and alkaloids in G. tenax. The polar extract demonstrated higher phenolic and flavonoid content compared to the non-polar extracts. All extracts exhibited moderate to high antioxidant activity, with the polar fraction showing the most promising results. Conversely, the less polar extracts displayed superior anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: The findings of this preliminary study validated traditional use G. tenax in a scientific manner and thus further research is warranted to fully explore its therapeutic applications and unlock its hidden potential.