ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ENZYME INHIBITION PROPERTIES OF CYATHULA PROSTRATA AND IPOMOEA AQUATICA

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory properties of Cyathula prostrata and Ipomoea aquatica. The edible parts of the plants were harvested, air-dried and ground to determine albumin denaturation inhibitory activity, anti-protease activity, lipase inhibition, α-amylase inhibition, and α-glucosidase inhibition. The parameters involved were analysed in triplicate, and the data obtained were statistically analyzed using using descriptive method of SPSS version 2021 to compute the mean. The means were used to construct bar graphs in Excel. The results revealed that C. prostrata exhibited higher albumin denaturation inhibition (28.5%) compared to I. aquatica (25%), confirming its stronger protein-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory potential. The anti-protease activity recorded was 88.5% for C. prostrata and 92.5% for I. aquatica, both of which were significantly high (p < 0.0001), indicating strong potential for controlling proteolytic tissue damage. Lipase inhibition values were 35% for C. prostrata and 25% for I. aquatica, while α-amylase inhibition was 45.25% and 49.5% respectively. α-Glucosidase inhibition was markedly higher in I. aquatica (62.56%) than C. prostrata (49.5%), suggesting a stronger antidiabetic potential for I. aquatica. In conclusion, the findings from this study demonstrated that both C. prostrata and I. aquatica are rich in bioactive compounds with dual anti-inflammatory and metabolic enzyme inhibitory activities, highlighting their potential as natural feed additives or phytotherapeutics for improving livestock health and productivity