Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Anti-inflammatory Potential of Hydroalcoholic Extracts and Fractions of Oxalis corneculata
Aditya Mallappa kamble, Ravi Shankar Rao, Rohit Kishor Patil, Nivedita Shivaji More
Abstract
Oxalis corniculata has been traditionally recognized for its medicinal properties, yet its anti- inflammatory potential remains underexplored. This study investigates its pharmacognostic characteristics and anti-inflammatory activity, focusing on enzyme inhibition and modulation of key inflammatory pathways. The extract was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), with optimization enhancing the yield of total phenolic and flavonoid content. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated through in vitro human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization and protein denaturation inhibition assays. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to elucidate interactions between bioactive compounds and key inflammatory targets. The optimized UAE method significantly improved the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds. The extract exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity, with IC₅₀ values of 65.27 µg/mL (HRBC assay) and 68.003 µg/mL (protein denaturation assay), comparable to standard anti-inflammatory agents. Network pharmacology analysis identified Beta- Sitosterol, apigenin, betulic acid, and swertisin as key active compounds interacting with crucial inflammatory mediators, including IL6, COX-2, NF-κB1, STAT3, MAPK8, TNF, NOS2, and TLR4. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement of the IL- 17 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling, cytokine regulation, oxidative stress response, and immune signaling, highlighting the extract's multi-targeted anti-inflammatory action. Oxalis corniculata demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity through enzyme inhibition and modulation of inflammatory pathways. Its polypharmacological nature supports its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for inflammation-related disorders. Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and therapeutic applications.