Evaluation of antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plant extracts for dental applications

Ethnopharmacological relevance Oxidative stress from chronic inflammation is linked to uncontrolled bacterial growth, especially oral pathogens, leading to dental issues. With rising antibiotic resistance, this study examines the medicinal properties of five plants: Sesamum senecioides, Euclea undulata, Kleinia longiflora, Aloe greatheadii , and Drimia elata . It focuses on their antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities to explore potential treatments for oral complications. Materials and methods The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and β-carotene-linoleic acid model system (β-CLAMS) assays were used to test for antioxidant activity. The MTT assay was utilized to evaluate the cytotoxicity profiles of both the methanol and aqueous extracts. Reactive nitric and oxygen species production was measured using the H 2 DCF-DA and DAF-DA on LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. The inflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) were measured using the respective enzyme assay kits. Results HPTLC–DPPH bioautography revealed prominent yellow bands for Euclea undulata extracts against a purple background. Both DPPH and β-carotene assays indicated strong antioxidant activity, with high radical scavenging in methanol and water extracts (2.325 ± 0.8588; 0.1310 ± 0). All extracts exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity on Raw 264.7 cells, particularly A. greatheadii water extract (IC₅₀ < 50 µg/mL). Methanol extracts decreased intracellular ROS levels by 99%. Aqueous extracts of D. elata, and S. senecioides moderately inhibited 15-LOX, while K. longiflora inhibited COX-2. Conclusion The extracts inhibited LPS-induced reactive nitrogen and oxygen species production, providing pharmacological support for their traditional use and supporting their potential as candidates for further investigation. These findings justify further phytochemical, microbiological, and in vivo studies to confirm their efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action.