TITLE:
Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of the Leaves and Stems of Melothria maderaspatana (Cucurbitaceae)
AUTHORS:
Awa Diop, Bédié Mbow, Mouhamadou Fofana, Moustapha Wade, Papa Biram Sy, Ibrahima Diallo, Birane Diop, Madiéye Sene, Fatou Dieng Faye
KEYWORDS:
Melothria maderaspatana, Inflammatory, Carrageenan
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.12,
December
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: Melothria maderaspatana is a plant used in traditional African medicine to treat several ailments. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves and stems of this plant. A phytochemical screening test was first performed to identify the presence or absence of certain families of secondary metabolites, which are generally responsible for the biological activity of plants. The rat paw inflammatory edema model, induced by injection of 1% carrageenan into the footpad, was used to assess inflammatory activity. Ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of Melothria maderaspatana were used at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed that this plant is rich in the tested secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids. After oral administration, the results showed that the different extracts significantly prevented (p