Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Biological activities of three Nigerian spices - Laurus nobilis Linn, Murraya koenigii (L) Spreng and Thymus vulgaris Linn

Mutiu Idowu Kazeem¹, Anofi Omotayo Tom Ashafa¹ , Mikhail Olugbemiro Nafiu²

¹Phytomedicine and Phytopharmacology Research Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa; ²Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Anofi Ashafa Email: ashafaaot@qwa.ufs.ac.za Tel:+27587185313

Received: 19 May 2015 Accepted: 28 October 2015 Published: 27 December 2015

Citation: Kazeem MI, Ashafa AO, Nafiu MO. Biological activities of three Nigerian spices - Laurus nobilis Linn, Murraya koenigii (L) Spreng and Thymus vulgaris Linn. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(12):2255-2261 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i12.15

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the biological properties of polyphenol extracts of three spices – Laurus nobilis (bay), Murayya koenigii (curry) and Thymus vulgaris (thyme) from Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: Acetone extracts of these spices were subjected to bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose antiglycation, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. Brine-shrimp lethality and phytotoxicity tests were also performed on the extracts (10 – 1000 µg/mL).

Results: The extract of T. vulgaris had the highest antiglycation effect with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 0.02 mg/mL, as well as antioxidant potential with IC₅₀ of 0.10 and 0.06 mg/mL for DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays, respectively (p < 0.05). On the other hand, all the extracts exhibited weak cytotoxicity with 50 % lethal dose (LD₅₀) ranging from 1000 – 2000 µg/mL, and for phytotoxicity, LD₅₀ ranged from 640 – 1640 µg/mL).

Conclusion: Acetone extracts of bay, curry and thyme displayed good antiglycation as well as antioxidant potential and are safe for consumption. However, of all the spices, thyme exhibited the best activity as an antioxidant and antiglycation agent.