Sclerocarya birrea Fruit Peel Ameliorates Diet‑Induced Obesity and Selected Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome in Female Wistar Rats

Background: The genus <em>Crotalaria</em> (Fabaceae) is known for its diverse pharmacological activities. <em>Crotalaria pallida</em> Aiton is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for various ailments. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of <em>C. pallida</em> leaf extracts. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilization assays. Cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Results: The methanolic extract showed significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 42.15 ± 1.24 μg/mL for DPPH and 128.45 ± 3.56 μg/mL for FRAP. The extract also exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In the MTT assay, the extract showed significant cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 68.24 ± 2.15 μg/mL. Conclusion: The results suggest that <em>C. pallida</em> leaf extract possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties, which could be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals.