IN-VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY, ACUTE TOXICITY TO ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS AND NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS OF BOHADSCHIA VITIENSIS WATER EXTRACT

Anti-inflammatory activity and the toxicity of Bohadschia vitiensis water extract were investigated by in-vitro models to evaluate the consumption of the extract by the local community to reduce arthritic-related pain. Specimens of B. vitiensis were collected from Mannar, Sri Lanka, and the water extract (WE) was prepared by removing visceral organs and incubating diced samples in distilled water, followed by freeze-drying. The WE was used to test acute toxicity, based on Danio rerio embryotoxicity assay and to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity based on in-vitro models; egg albumin denaturation, erythrocyte membrane stability, Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging and Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) scavenging activities. The IC₅₀ was calculated for each assay and compared with a standard reference drug. The qualitative zoo-chemical analysis was carried out while the presence of major nutrients was evaluated. According to the results, WE had a LC₅₀ of 151.59 µg/ml for Danio rerio embryotoxicity assay. The anti-inflammatory activity against egg albumin denaturation (IC₅₀ of 277.51 µg/ml) was reported while a maximum percentage inhibition of 32.09% was reported at 250 µg/ml in erythrocyte membrane stability. However, the WE was less potent against NO and HP scavenging activities (IC₅₀ = 2577.06 µg/ml, 1908.11 µg/ml respectively). The WE contained terpenoids, saponins, and sterol as zoo-chemicals and proteins and lipids as major nutrients. In conclusion, WE exhibited a considerable anti-inflammatory activity with moderate toxicity and the presence of some important zoo-chemicals, scientifically validating the use of Bohadschia vitiensis water extract for anti-inflammatory activity.