Synergistic in-vitro Anti-inflammatory and Anti-platelet Activities of Combined Ethanol Leaf Extract of Ficus capensis and Mentha spicata with Phytochemical Characterization

Inflammation is a key factor in the development of many chronic diseases, and the search for safer, plant-based anti-inflammatory agents remains important. This study investigated the synergistic in-vitro anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet potential of the combined ethanol leaf extract of Ficuscapensis and Mentha spicata, alongside its phytochemical compositions. Phytochemical screening showed that the combined extract is rich in phenolics and flavonoids, with moderate levels of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids, and trace amounts of glycosides. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) induced haemolysis, hypotonic solution induced human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization, and platelet aggregation assays. The extract significantly (P <.001) reduced haemoglobin release caused by PLA₂, demonstrating a concentration-dependent effect with a maximum inhibition of 89.4% at 1.0 µg/ml. It also protected red blood cells against hypotonic-induced lysis, showing inhibition values comparable to diclofenac. In addition, the extract significantly (P <.001) decreased platelet aggregation, with the highest inhibition (80.3%) observed at the highest concentration tested. These findings imply that the combined extract exerts its protective effects through membrane stabilization, inhibition of inflammatory enzymes, and antioxidant activity linked to its rich phytochemical constituents. This study addresses an important research gap by evaluating the synergistic activity of the combined extracts rather than assessing each plant individually. By addressing the limited scientific evidence on their synergistic action, this research supports the traditional use of plant combinations and highlights their potential as natural alternatives for managing inflammation. Further in-vivo and structural elucidation studies are recommended to confirm these promising results.