Scilight Press

Urease is an enzyme that belongs to the super family of amidohydrolases and phosphotriesterases which is responsible for various gastrointestinal diseases including urinary stones. Various plant species were exploited for naturally inhibiting the urease enzyme. Delonix regia is traditionally known for its anti-ulcer, cytotoxic and antifungal activities. In this context, the present work was aimed at comparing the effect of four extraction processes (maceration, Soxhlet extraction, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction) and five solvents (distilled water, methanol, acetone, dichloromethane and diethyl ether) on the extraction yield and urease inhibition potential of stem and leaf extracts of D. regia. The study showed that Soxhlet extraction process with polar solvents (distilled water and methanol) provided highest extraction yield (29.28% with leaf, and 13.88% and 13.78% with stem), while maceration and methanol exhibited highest urease inhibition potential (52.53±0.53% with stem and 55.28±0.37% with leaf) showing synchrony near to the standard inhibitor used i.e. thiourea with 73.58±0.02% inhibition activity. The work indicated that polar solvents were more significant for extraction and D. regia extracts were found to be promising natural urease inhibitor.