ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CERBERA MANGHAS L. LEAVES

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical nature (group determination of plant constituents) as well as the antioxidant and analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of the Cerbera manghas L. leaves (Family: Apocynaceae). Phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extract of Cerbera manghas leaves indicated the presence of carbohydrate (reducing sugars), alkaloids, tannins, steroids, flavonoids & glycosides. The extract exhibited significant (P<0.01) analgesic effect in acetic acid induced writhing of white albino mice at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. The extract inhibited 30.65% writhing in mice and it is comparable to the activity of the standard analgesic drug Diclofenac sodium (79.03% P<0.001) at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. The extract showed the antioxidant property by the presence of strong yellow spot on a purple background on the TLC plate and in the free radical scavenging activity study (DPPH assay) the extract showed significant antioxidant activity ( IC$\sim$269.15$\mu$g/ml) which is comparable to standard (Ascorbic Acid, IC
$\sim$14.45 $\mu$g/ml). The findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of Cerbera manghas leaves possess antioxidant and analgesic activities.