INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF LUPEOL FROM Cryptolepis oblongifolia (MEINS) SCHLTR ON PARTIALLY PURIFIED PHOSPHOLIAPASE A2 VENOM OF Naja nigricollis (ELAPIDAE)

Abstract

The research is design to provide scientific evidence for the use of Cryptolepis oblongifolia in traditional treatment of inflammation and also to examine whether it have some snake venom phospholipase A₂ inhibition potential. A triterpene was isolated from C. oblongifolia using column chromatography and identified via spectroscopic means. The inhibitory activity of the isolate on phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) of Naja nigricollis venom was evaluated. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) of the isolated compound showed the presence of olefinic protons while the carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) showed the presence of exomethylene carbon atoms. By comparison with the reported literature the compound was found to be lupeol, the inhibitory activity of the isolate on PLA₂ of Naja nigricollis venom showed that, the isolate inhibits the PLA₂ at dose dependent manner with inhibition binding constant (ki) of 0.015 mg/ml. The activity of the compound isolated supports the local usage of C. oblongifolia in traditional treatment of inflammation.