Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FLUEGGEA LEUCOPYRUS WILD. ROOT EXTRACTS

Sarath Lal P. S.*, A. M. Ayshath Safreena, Ayshath Sahana, Fathimath Sharfana T. S., Khadeejath Afeedha and Rinob Thamban

ABSTRACT

Herbal medicines has the major remedy in traditional system of medicine. Flueggea leucopyrus Wild. (fam: Euphorbiaceae) is a thorny, large shrub or small tree. In Ayurveda it has a lot of potential medicinal uses. It was used in vitiated conditions of burning sensation, seminal weakness and general debility. Roots are used in the treatment of testicular enlargement and in the cure of oedema. The whole plant has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative action. The present work highlights the phytochemical and pharmacological studies on various extracts of roots of F. leucopyrus Wild. Roots were collected from Kasaragod district, and subjected to successive solvent extraction. The pharmacognostic studies like histology, powder analysis, fibre length, moisture content and extractive values were carried out. As the next step, various extracts of root were tried for anti-oxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay which gives significant results. In vitro anti-inflammatory studies were done for various extracts of root using protein denaturation method which shows maximum effect. The above result shows that the presence of phytoconstituents like glycosides, flavanoids, alkaloids, steroids and tannins may be responsible for anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory activities. The phytochemical studies give conformation of the above said results. The pharmacological studies give supportive results to affirm the above said activity.

Keywords: Flueggea leucopyrus, Pharmacognostic studies, DPPH radical scavenging assay, anti-inflammatory.