The main aim of the work was to scientifically prove the anti-inflammatory property of the polyphenol-rich fraction of hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Litsea quinqueflora (Dennst.) Suresh by protein denaturation and free radical scavenging activity. The polyphenol-rich fraction of hydro-alcoholic leaf extract was obtained via acid-alkali hydrolysis, followed by fractionation with chloroform and ethyl acetate. HPTLC profiling of the finally obtained ethyl acetate fraction and consequent

more »

... ation with aluminium chloride revealed the presence of flavonoids in a more purified form. LCMS/MS analysis tentatively identified the presence of bioactive polyphenolic compounds such as gallocatechin, sinapic acid, pinocembrin, paeonol and umbelliferone in the separated fraction. The polyphenol-rich fraction of hydro-alcoholic extract of leaves showed anti-denaturing activity in heat-induced bovine serum albumin denaturation with an IC50 value of 23.59 µg/ml and was statistically significant at 0.1% level. The antioxidant property of the polyphenol-rich fraction determined by its free radical scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS showed IC50 values 122.98 and 135.44 µg/ml respectively and was also statistically significant at 0.1% level. Hence, the traditional use of Litsea quinqueflora as an anti-inflammatory agent can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols.