In vitro urease inhibitory screening of various extracts of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton

Abstract

Natural products have traditionally been recognised as valuable sources of therapeutic compounds with various pharmacological actions. The objective of the current research was the investigation of phytochemical composition and in vitro urease inhibitory activity of the various solvent fractions of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton. The shade-dried vegetal matter was dissolved in methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus, and the crude extract was fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and butanol extracts. Phytochemical analysis showed that the secondary metabolites (flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds) are found mostly in the polar fractions. The jack bean urease (EC 3.5.1.5) assay was used to establish the urease inhibitory capacity of the fractions based on the use of thiourea as the standard. Among all fractions tested, the butanol fraction exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity (84.33% inhibition; IC₅₀ = 34.45 ± 1.09 µg/mL), followed by methanol (80.40%; IC₅₀ = 40.45 ± 1.05 µg/mL) and ethyl acetate (60.03%; IC₅₀ = 72.15 ± 1.00 µg/mL), while n-hexane and chloroform fractions showed comparatively lower effects. The superior activity of the polar fractions suggests that flavonoids and phenolic constituents may play a key role in the enzyme inhibition. These results indicate that Calotropis procera has great potential as a source of urease inhibitors in a natural selection, providing a typical application of it in traditional medicine and a possible direction for creating safer treatment methods in inhibiting urease-related diseases (peptic ulcers, urolithiasis, and Helicobacter pylori infection). This piece fits the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) as well, since it would support sustainable and plant-based drug discovery.