TLC Determination of Marmesin, a Biologically Active Marker from Feronia Limonia L.

Feronia limonia Linn. (Rutaceae) have gained traditional therapeutic importance owing to their high essential oil and coumarins content. Marmesin, a furanocoumarin was identified by TLC and isolated by column chromatography and further purified by Preparative TLC. Presently, there is no appropriate TLC based method available for standardization of F. limonia. A simple, sensitive and accurate high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed for the estimation of marmesin in the methanolic extract of stem bark of Feronia limonia. HPTLC was performed on precoated silica gel 60F254 aluminium plates (20 cm × 20 cm) with Chloroform: Methanol (9.5:0.5), as mobile phase. Quantitative evaluation of the plate was performed in the absorption-reflection mode at 338 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 20 – 100 ng spot–1. The method was validated for precision, repeatability and accuracy. The technique has been applied, for the first time, for the estimation of marmesin. The proposed method was found to be robust, precise, and accurate, it therefore holds potential for detection, monitoring and quantification of marmesin in Feronia limonia and its related formulation.

Reversible antispermatogenic and antisteroidogenic activities of Feronia limonia fruit pulp in adult male rats

Objective:To explore the antispermatogenic and testicular antisleroidogenic activities of Feronia limonia fruit pulp southern India.Methods:Fourty Wistar male albino rats(Ratios norvegicus)were equally divided into four groups.Experimental groups were administered with the ethanolic extract of Feronia lirnonia(F.limoni)fruit pulp at doses of 250 and 500 nig/kg body weight once daily for 55 days.All treated rats had corresponding recovery groups.At the end of each treatment periods,various spermatological indices,tissue biochemicals and testicular enzymes levels were analysed.Blood profiles were also estimated.Results:Compared with the control,the F.lirnonia.fruit pulp at both dose leveb did not decrease body weight,which were associated with decline in epididymal sperm count,motility,viability and increased percent of abnormal sperm.Further,F.limonia.fruit pulp at 500 mg/kg body weight markedly reduced the epididymal and testicular protein content by 24.58%and 29.86%,respectively,as well as the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and△~5-3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase)levels by 42.82%and 38.08%,respectively,while a significant elevation was observed in testicular cholesterol and ascorbic acid content.A gradual recovery of all parameters was observed after 55 days of treatment withdrawal.No significant alterations in haematological indices were observed.Conclusions:The present findings indicate that F.lirnonia fruit pulp may have reversible antispermatogenic and antisteroidogenic properties,and could partially support the traditional use as mate contraceptive.

Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antidiarrhoeal Activities of <i>Feronia limonia</i>Leaf Extract

The present study was carried out to investigate possible antibacterial and antidiarrhoeal activities of ethanol extract of Feronia limonia leaves. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract was performed to detect presence of different kinds of phytoconstituents. The antibacterial activity was investigated against four Gram positive and four Gram negative bacteria by using disc diffusion method. The plant extract showed moderate antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria namely Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus pyogenes and all tested Gram negative bacteria namely Escherichia coli, Shigella boydii, Shigella dysentery and Shigella flexneri in dose dependant manner. The results of castor oil-induced diarrhoeal study showed that Feronia limonia extract significantly reduced the severity & frequency of diarrhoea in mice at a higher dose of 500 mg/kg compared with the standard drug loperamide (25 mg/kg). The present study clearly supports the medicinal value of this plant. The overall results indicate the possibility of presence of some active principles in the plant extract possessing antibacterial and antidiarrhoeal actions.

Antihepatotoxic Effect of Feronia Limonia Fruit against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatic Damage in Albino Rats

Feronia limonia Swingle, though mentioned as a high utility medicinal plant in Ayurveda for the treat-ment of liver disorders, but has no scientific investigations. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of extracts of Feronia limonia fruit on albino rat liver, damage induced by single dose of carbon-tetrachloride (1.5 ml/kg, p.o.). The oral administration of extracts (500 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days has shown significant hepatoprotective action. There is reduction in the elevated levels of serum enzymes such SGOT, SGPT, ALP and Serum bilirubin and elevation in level of GSH, GPX,GLY and total protein in Feronia limonia protected rats.

Cytotoxicity evaluation and hepatoprotective potential of bioassay guided fractions from Feronia limmonia Linn leaf

Objective:To evaluate the cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective potentials of extracts,fractions or isolated compound from the leaves of Feronia limonia(F.limonia).Methods:Qualitative phytochemical analysis of extracts,fractions or compound was performed by means of thin layer chromatography and spectroscopic assays.The%purity of compound was measured by analytical HPLC.Extracts,fractions or compound have been individually evaluated for their cytotoxicity effects(10,20,100,250,500,750 and 1 000 μg/mL).Based on the inhibitory concentration(IC_(50)) obtained from the cell viability assay,graded concentrations of extracts,fractions or isolated compound were assessed(10,20,50,100,200 μg/mL) for its hepatoprotective potential against CCl_4-induced hepatotoxicity by monitoring activity levels of serum glutamatic pyruvatic transaminase(SGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(SGOT).Results:Results indicated that the methanol extract of F.limonia was non-toxic and hepatoprotective in nature as compared with the petroleum ether extract.The acetone fraction of methanolic extract also showed similar properties but the subsequent two fractions were cytotoxic.However,the pure compound isolated from the penultimate fraction of methanolic extract was non-toxic and hepatoprotective in nature.Biochemical investigations(SCOT,SCPT) further corroborated these cytological observations.Conclusions:It can be concluded from this study that F.limonia methanol extract,some fractions and pure isolated compound herein exhibit hepatoprotective activity.However,cytotoxicity recorded in the penultimate fraction and investigation of structural details of pure compound warrants further study.