# Assessment of Preclinical Antioxidative and Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Cornus macrophylla Wall. Bark

## TL;DR

This study shows that the ethyl acetate fraction of Cornus macrophylla bark has strong anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in mice.

## Contribution

The study identifies the ethyl acetate fraction of C. macrophylla as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent through in vivo and ex vivo experiments.

## Key findings

- The ethyl acetate fraction of C. macrophylla significantly reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in mice.
- It restored antioxidant levels like glutathione and catalase in a dose-dependent manner.
- The fraction improved locomotor activity in LPS-treated mice.

## Abstract

Cornus macrophylla
Wall. Bark has been traditionally utilized for its therapeutic properties; however, limited scientific evidence is available that supports its role as having anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Exploring the neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory properties of
C. macrophylla
Wall. Bark may help in validating the therapeutic properties, presenting insights into its use as a potent natural component for modulating inflammation and oxidative stress‐related neurological ailments. In this study, crude extract along with different fractions of
C. macrophylla
Wall. Bark have been investigated for anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. In the in vivo anti‐inflammatory assay, the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction showed activity of 68.3%, 79.7%, and 83.7% at dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg B.W. (Body weight) of all the mice decreased when treated with LPS while it increased when treated with aspirin, crude extract, dichloromethane (DCM), and EA, respectively. Rectal temperature increased when treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and gradually decreased with aspirin, crude, DCM, and EA fraction. Moreover, locomotor activity was weak when treated with LPS and enhanced when treated with aspirin, crude, DCM, and EA, respectively. Neuroprotective ex vivo results showed that the EA fraction decreased oxidative stress by restoring the glutathione (GSH) level by 21.10, 18.20, and 14.04 μM/mg proteins at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The EA fraction decreased oxidative stress by restoring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) level by 0.17, 0.15, and 0.13 units/mg proteins at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW, respectively. The EA fraction decreased oxidative stress by restoring the malondialdehyde (MDA) level by 0.17, 0.15, and 0.13 units/mg proteins at dosages of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The EA fraction markedly increases the level of catalase (CAT) by 46.26, 41.12, and 39.37 units/mg proteins at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. In vivo results validated the in vitro results of different fractions of
C. macrophylla
.

C. macrophylla
, belonging to the Cornaceae family, exhibits significant anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest efficacy in reducing oxidative stress, restoring antioxidant levels (GSH, SOD, TBARS, and CAT), and improving locomotor activity in LPS‐treated mice, validating its therapeutic potential.