Phytochemical screening and in vitro bioactivities of the extracts of aerial part of Boerhavia diffusa Linn.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bioactivities of crude n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of aerial part of Boerhavia diffusa Linn. (B. diffusa) and its phytochemical analysis. METHODS: The identification of phytoconstituents and assay of antioxidant, thrombolytic, cytotoxic, antimicrobial activities were conducted using specific standard in vitro procedures. RESULTS: The results showed that the plant extracts were a rich source of phytoconstituents. Methanol extract showed higher antioxidant, thrombolytic activity and less cytotoxic activity than those of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of B. diffusa. Among the bioactivities, antioxidant activity was the most notable compared to the positive control and thus could be a potential rich source of natural antioxidant. In case of antimicrobial screening, crude extracts of the plant showed remarkable antibacterial activity against tested microorganisms. All the extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against Candida albicuns, at a concentration of 1000 µg/disc. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that, the plant widely available in Bangladesh, could be a prominent source of medicinally important natural compounds.

Study of pharmacological activities of methanol extract of Jatropha gossypifolia fruits.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to investigate the possible in vivo analgesic, neuropharmacological and anti-diarrheal activities of the methanol extract of Jatropha gossypifolia fruits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analgesic activity was measured by acetic acid induced writhing inhibition test. The neuropharmacological activities were evaluated by hole cross, hole-board, and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests and the anti-diarrheal activity was assessed by castor oil induced diarrhea inhibition method. FINDINGS: The extract showed highly significant (P < 0.001) analgesic activity with % inhibitions of writhing response at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight were 77.86% and 71.25%, respectively. The extract at both doses showed significant (P < 0.05) sedative effect in-hole cross test. In-hole board test, the extract showed highly significant (P < 0.001) anxiolytic activity at lower dose whereas this activity was observed at higher dose in EPM test. The extract also showed highly significant (P < 0.001) anti-diarrheal activity. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study clearly indicate the presence of significant analgesic, neuropharmacological and anti-diarrheal properties of the plant, which demands further investigation including, compound isolation.