© 2019 |Published by Scholars Middle East Publishers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 923 Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Abbreviated Key Title: Saudi J Med Pharm Sci ISSN 2413-4929 (Print) |ISSN 2413-4910 (Online) Scholars Middle East Publishers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Journal homepage: http://scholarsmepub.com/sjmps/ Original Research Article Anti-oxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-proliferative and Anti-microbial activities (In vitro) of Indigofera hirsuta and Afrormosia laxiflora Muhammad B. Y *1,2 , Adamu RM 4 , Enemali MO 2 , Abba Babandi 3 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria 3 Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nigeria 4 Department of Biochemistry, Bayero University Kano Nigeria DOI: 10.36348/sjmps.2019.v05i11.002 | Received: 21.10.2019 | Accepted: 28.10.2019 | Published: 11.11.2019 *Corresponding author: Muhammad BY Abstract This study highlights the characterization and biological activities ( in vitro) of root extracts of Indigofera hirsuta (Ih-E) and Afrormosia laxiflora (Al-E). The results showed that total phenolic and flavonoid contents in dry Ih-E were 54.38 mg and 116.03 mg/gram, respectively, while in Al-E were 170.46 mg and 80.23 mg/gram. Both extracts exhibited antioxidant activities since they decreased lipid peroxidation, but increased antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory activities as shown from inhibition of RBC haemolysis and inhibition of albumin denaturation. Also, they have cytotoxic effect against normal BHK-21 and HepG2 where IC 50 for Ih-E were 309 μg/ml and 95μg/ml, respectively (selectivity index 1.58), while for Al-E 57.50μg/ml and 144.50 μg/ml, respectively (selectivity index 0.40). Ih-E has antimicrobial activities towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio species and E-coli, while Al-E showed no antimicrobial activities. Conclusion: Both extracts possessed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, thus, can be used as pharmacological tools. Keywords: Indigofera hirsuta root; Afrormosia laxiflora root, Antioxidant; anticancer; anti-inflammatory; antimicrobial. Copyright @ 2019: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial use (NonCommercial, or CC-BY-NC) provided the original author and source are credited. INTRODUCTION Plants (roots stem, fruits and leaves) contain secondary metabolites, which have various biological activities. The secondary metabolites could inhibit or modulate inflammatory response and oxidative stress (OS); which in turn, could prevent or treat pathological conditions [1]. Free radicals (F R) are fundamental to any biochemical process and represent an essential part of aerobic life and metabolism [2]. FRs include reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The most common ROS are superoxide anion radical (O 2 −•)hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), peroxy radical (ROO•), hydroxyl (OH - ) radicals while RNS include nitric oxide (NO) nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 •), nitrite/nitrate and peroxy nitrite anion (ROO•) [2, 3]. Under normal circumstances, homeostasis exists between ROS/RNS and antioxidants. [4]. Antioxidants include both enzymatic such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, glutathione reductase and non-enzymatic such as glutathione, Vitamins A, C and among others [5]. However, excess production of ROS/RNS or deficiency of antioxidants could lead to OS stress, characterized by tissue injury, inflammation, LPO, proteins and DNA- damage, increased mutation rate within cells and thus promoting oncogenic transformation [6]. In addition, OS can trigger signalling pathways hence contribute to tumour development through regulation of cellular proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis [7]. On the other hand, the increase in incidence of drug-resistance and adverse effect have made it necessary for scientists and pharmaceutical companies to search for drugs from natural sources [8]. Out of 109 new antibacterial drugs, approved in the period 1981– 2006, 69% got their root from medicinal plants and other natural compounds, and 21% of antifungal drugs were natural derivatives or compounds mimicking natural products [9]. Nigeria is a country that is blessed with vast arrays of flora most of which are yet to be discovered or utilized maximally, to arrive at a drug. Some of these florae used in Nigerian traditional medicine include; Afrormosia laxiflora (Hausa name: Makarho) is one of the commonest trees of the savanna and dry dense forest found in Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and other West African countries. Traditionally, it is used as an