IN VITRO SCREENING OF CAESALPINIA BONDUC AND FICUS BENGHALENSIS FOR INHIBITORY ACTIVITY ON MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES (MMP-2 AND MMP-9)

Proteolytic enzymes released by the host cells are associated with the tissue destruction in inflammatory disease condition. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have primary role in this process, as they degrade most of the extracellular matrix components. In the present study hydroalcoholic extract and fractions of Caesalpinia bonduc L. and Ficus benghalensis L. were screened for their in vitro inhibitory activity on MMP-2 and MMP-9. Screening was carried out by using gelatin zymography assay. Matrix metalloproteinases were extracted from the human tonsil tissue. The test samples were treated with the extracted MMPs and percentage inhibition was determined by using gelatin zymography. Hydroalcoholic extract of C. bonduc (CB-1) showed 99% inhibition of MMP-9 and 98% inhibition of MMP-2. However, hydroalcoholic extract of F. benghalensis (FB-1) showed 86.66% inhibition of MMP-9 and 89% inhibition of MMP-2. The inhibition of MMPs was decreased with increase in polarity of the solvents used for the successive fractionation in case of C. bonduc. However some polar and non-polar constituents might be responsible for inhibition of MMPs in case of F. benghalensis. MMP-2 appears to be more sensitive than MMP-9.