To evaluate the antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects of methanolic leaf extract of the traditional medicinal plant, Cryptolepis grandiflora. The plant leaves were subjected to solvent extraction by using methanol for obtaining crude extract. The crude extract (9.12g/ml) was tested for assaying antioxidant properties by total antioxidant (ABTS•+), DPPH•, reducing power and metal chelating activities. In addition, inhibition of protein denaturation, proteinase activity and the levels of enzymic antioxidants viz., SOD, CAT and GPx were employed to determine antiinflammatory activity. Methanolic leaf extract was determined to have stronger antioxidant activity by ABTS (2321.4±397.9 μmol TE/g extract), DPPH (35.21% - 50 µg/mL and 74.37% - 250 µg/mL and IC50 - 92μg/mL), reducing power (0.231 - 300µg/mL 0.843 - 700µg/mL) and metal chelating (20.18% - 500µg/mL and 52.03% - 900µg/mL) assays in comparison to respective standards. In antiinflammatory study, protein denatturation (91.21% - 200 µg/mL and 93.12% - 400µg/mL), proteinase inhibition (90.02% – 200 µg/mL and 87.12% - 400 µg/mL) and the enzymic antioxidants viz., SOD, CAT and GPx were found to be significantly reduced (p<0.05) the inflammation in animal model. The leaves of Cryptolepis grandiflora is a potential antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent.
