BIOEFFICACY AND BIOSAFETY OFHYDRO-ETHANOLIC BURKEA AFRICANA HOOK EXTRACTS

Introduction: Burkea africana Hook, a medicinal plant in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae, is a medium-sized, woody, deciduous tree widely used in traditional medicine. It is used to treat conditions such as pain, inflammation, bacterial infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and reproductive problems. Despite its extensive traditional use, there is limited scientific evidence supporting these applications. This study aims to investigate the bioactive metabolites in its bark extracts, evaluate its anti-inflammatory properties and assess biosafety. Methods: The hydro-ethanolic extract of Burkea africana Hook was obtained by macerating the plant powder in a 70% alcohol-30% distilled water solvent mixture. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to screen the extracts for bioactive phytoconstituents. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the egg albumin test. Acute oral toxicity was conducted following guidance from the OECD 425 to determine the extracts’ biosafety. Results: Metabolomic analysis confirmed the presence of medically relevant bioactive phytoconstituents, including flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, and saponins. The extracts exhibited an extraordinary anti-inflammatory effect, as confirmed by the protein denaturation test. At high doses, their anti-inflammatory activity was comparable to the pure reference NSAID Diclofenac, with 80% inhibition at 1000 micrograms per milliliter, while Diclofenac’s was 83% in the same dose range. In-vivo acute oral toxicity evaluation in accordance with OECD 425 confirmed that the extracts were safe, with an LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extracts showed no visible signs of toxicity or mortality in the animal models, confirming their biosafety. Conclusion: Bark extracts of Burkea africana Hook demonstrate safety and anti-inflammatory effects that can be applied in inflammatory disease management.