Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Pharmacological Potential of Baliospermum solanifolium Leaf Extract

Background:Baliospermum solanifolium is a traditional medicinal plant,locally known as“dantigaacha”from Eu-phorbiaceae family,and has been used in different diseases treatments likes helminthiasis,skin diseases,diabetes,snake-bite,and leukoderma.Objectives:Depending on the traditional uses of B.solanifolium and the lack of scientific works,we aimed to conduct some pharmacological tests on its leaves.Methods:Active constituents of B.solanifolium were assessed by qualitative screening.DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)was used for free radical scavenging assay.Behavioral change and mortality rate were used as indicators to assess the toxicity of B.solanifolium.The antidiabetic potential was evaluated by oral glucose toler-ance test(OGTT)and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity.In antidiarrheal activity,castor oil-induced mice were used.Antibacterial test was carried out by disk diffusion assay and MIC determination.Furthermore,analgesic activity was done by acetic acid-induced writhing method.Results:B.solanifolium contains alkaloids,carbohydrates,glycosides,flavonoids,tannis,phenolics etc.Acute toxicity test ensured the safety of the extract.In DPPH,the extract showed antioxidant activity with an IC50(con-centration needed to scavenge 50%DPPH)value of 61.65μg/mL.Total phenolic,flavonoid and tannin contents were determined as 124 mg GAE/g,440 mg QE/g and 344 mg GAE/g dried extract,respectively.In OGTT,the ex-tract reduced the blood glucose level significantly.In the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity,the plant showed a concentration-dependent reduction of the enzyme at IC50 of 8.53 mg/mL.In the antidiarrheal test,B.solanifolium inhibit defecation 30.69%and 53.41%at dose 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg,respectively.The extract also showed antibacterial activity against four bacterial strains in the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concen-tration(MIC)values were 62.5μg/mL,62.5μg/mL,125μg/mL and 62.5μg/mL against four bacterial strains,independently.In analgesic activity test,the extract reduced the writhing impulse up to 48.51%at 500 mg/kg dose.Conclusion:B.solanifolium contains many active phytoconstituents which may be the possible candidates for targeting diabetes,microbial infection,diarrhea and pain in the future.

Exploration of Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties of Aerial Parts of Blumea lacera, a Common Weed in Bangladesh

Background:Blumea lacera(Family Asteraceae)is a herb found in the uncultivated lands of many Asian countries.This plant is used by quack doctors for some medicinal purposes.Objective:Works presented in this manuscript were conducted on the ethanol extract of aerial parts of B.lacera.Various pharmacological tests like antioxidant,analgesic,anti-inflammatory,antidiarrheal,diuretic,antibacte-rial,anthelmintic and toxicological tests like brine shrimp lethality and acute toxicity were evaluated.Methods:Antioxidant test was conducted by determining secondary metabolites content and DPPH free radical scavenging assay.Acetic acid-induced writhing method,xylene-induced ear edema method,castor oil-induced diarrheal method,and urinary volume test were performed to evaluate the analgesic,anti-inflammatory,an-tidiarrheal and diuretic effects,respectively.The antibacterial test was performed by disk diffusion method,anthelmintic activity by recording the paralysis and death time of P.cervi and finally,cytotoxic activity was performed by brine shrimp lethality bioassay.Results:TPC,TFC and TTC contents of B.lacera extract were found to be 9 mg GAE/g,31 mg QE/g and 18 mg GAE/g.The SC 50 value of the DPPH radical scavenging assay was found to be higher than 3000μg·mL^(-1).The LD 50 value of B.lacera extract in mice was higher than 5000 mg·kg^(-1).This extract significantly inhibited writhing reflexes by 24.5%and 43.6%and reduced ear edema up to 24.6%and 41%at 250 and 500 mg·kg^(-1) bw doses,respectively.It also increased the latency of the first defecation period up to 52.8 min and 106.6 min as well as decreased the stool count by 34.1%and 48.2%at 250 and 500 mg·kg-1 bw doses,respectively.It also showed an increase in urinary output in the diuretic test.Good antibacterial activity of B.lacera extract was confirmed by retardation in bacterial growth and significantly killed P.cervi in a dose-dependent manner.In brine shrimp lethality bioassay,the LC 50 value was found to be 5.4μg·mL-1.Conclusion:B.lacera showed mild analgesic,anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal properties.It could be used as a diuretic,antibacterial,anthelmintic and cytotoxic drug which justify the plant’s traditional uses in folk medicine.