Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, And Toxicological Evaluation Of Argyreia Nervosa bojar. Extracts

Abstract

Argyreia nervosa bojar., a member of the Convolvulaceae family, is a plant of significant medicinal interest due to its diverse phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential. This study investigates the phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of different solvent extracts (aqueous, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate) of Argyreia nervosa (AN). The aqueous extract showed the highest concentrations of phenolics (0.99 ± 0.13 mg GAE/100g) and flavonoids (18.89 ± 1.5 mg/100g) compared to other extracts. Antioxidant activity, assessed through DPPH free radical scavenging, was highest in the aqueous extract, with a 78.33% inhibition rate significantly outperforming (p=<0.01) other solvent extracts. Further, the best-performed aqueous extract was evaluated for toxicological effects on Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute and subacute toxicity studies, conducted for oral doses 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg, revealed no mortality or adverse clinical signs in rats, however, mild weight gain was observed. Sub-acute toxicity studies did not significantly alter most hematological and biochemical parameters, except for a dose-dependent increase in serum ALT and AST levels at 600 mg/kg, indicating potential hepatotoxicity at higher doses. These findings not only underscore the medicinal potential of A. nervosa bojar. but also confirm its usability in developing new natural therapies.