European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF IPOMOEA OBSCURA EXTRACTS: IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTIBACTERIAL, AMYLASE INHIBITOR AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITIES

Krishna Kumar A.* and Dr. Vivek Chauhan

ABSTRACT

Ipomoea obscura, a plant with traditional medicinal significance, was investigated for its in vitro pharmacological potential through methanol extracts (IO ME) and derived compounds. This study evaluated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, alpha-amylase inhibitory, and anticancer activities using standardized assays. Antioxidant activity was assessed via DPPH radical scavenging, yielding 64.82% inhibition for IO ME and 74.07% for Compound A, compared to ascorbic acid’s 85.18%. Anti-inflammatory effects, measured by albumin denaturation inhibition, were modest, with IO ME at 3% and Compound A at 10%, far below diclofenac sodium’s 85.56%. Antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae was robust, with IO ME producing zones of inhibition of 22.49–25.66 mm, Compound B at 28.63–25.68 mm, and a repeat of Compound A at 29.97–26.28 mm, rivaling streptomycin (27.07–24.17 mm). Alpha-amylase inhibition ranged from 45.71% (IO C) to 54.28% (IO B) at 500 µL, against acarbose’s 81.42%, indicating moderate antidiabetic potential. Anticancer activity against SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells showed IO ME with an IC50 of 58.73 µg/mL and a CC50 of 128.95 µg/mL against Vero cells, suggesting potent cytotoxicity with low normal cell toxicity. Variability in repeat DPPH assays (IO ME at 56.02%) highlights the need for standardization. These findings demonstrate Ipomoea obscura’s multifaceted bioactivity, with significant promise in combating oxidative stress, bacterial infections, hyperglycemia, and cancer, though its anti-inflammatory effects are limited. The strong antibacterial and anticancer profiles, coupled with moderate enzyme inhibition, validate traditional uses and position IO ME as a candidate for further phytochemical and in vivo studies to elucidate mechanisms and enhance therapeutic applications

Keywords: Ipomoea obscura, Antioxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Alpha-amylase inhibition, Anticancer, DPPH assay, Methanol extract, Phytochemicals.