In vitro and In silico study of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activity of bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina del.) Extract

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Published: Feb 28, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i2.17
Keywords:
Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Secondary metabolite, Vernonia amygdalina

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Ernie Halimatushadyah
Pharmacy Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Binawan University, Jakarta 13630, Indonesia
Illah Sailah
Agroindustrial Engineering Study Program, Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricutural Engineering and Technology, IPB University, Kampus IPB Darmaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Trina Ekawati Tallei
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Yulianida Tamala
Agroindustrial Engineering Study Program, Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricutural Engineering and Technology, IPB University, Kampus IPB Darmaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Linda Safitri
Agroindustrial Engineering Study Program, Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricutural Engineering and Technology, IPB University, Kampus IPB Darmaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Aji Humaedi
Pharmacy Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Binawan University, Jakarta 13630, Indonesia

Abstract

Bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) are known by the people of Southern Nigeria as a traditional medicine that can be used for various diseases. Bitter leaves have compounds that act as antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and have anti-inflammatory effects, which regulate arachidonic acid metabolism by inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase. The study aims to determine the secondary metabolite content of bitter leaf extract and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro and in silico assays. Antioxidant activity​​ was evaluated using the DPPH method, while anti-inflammatory ​​was carried out using the protein denaturation method and spectrophotometry. Meanwhile, an in silico study was conducted using computational molecular docking tests. The study results showed the methanol extract of Bitter Leaves contained secondary metabolites in the form of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and steroids with total phenolics of 112.067 ± 0.157135 (mgGAE/g) and total flavonoids of 32.808 ± 1.473139 (mgQE/g). The bitter leaf extract exhibits potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 = 6.10 ppm and an anti-inflammatory IC50 = 25.33 ppm. The docking results showed that the bioactive compounds of bitter leaves have potential anti-inflammatory activity based on the binding energy value, inhibition constant, and average bond distance. Bitter leaves have compounds acting as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects, as shown in in vitro and in silico studies. 


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Halimatushadyah, E., Sailah, I., Tallei, T. E., Tamala, Y., Safitri, L., & Humaedi, A. (2025). In vitro and In silico study of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activity of bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina del.) Extract . Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR), 9(2), 534 – 540. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i2.17
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Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025): Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR)
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Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Trina Ekawati Tallei, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

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