Abstract

STANDARDIZATION & ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA LINN. LEAVES

Atul Kumar Gangwar*, Ashoke Kumar Ghosh, Vikas Saxena

ABSTRACT

Phoenix dactylifera linn. belonging to family Arecaceae, leaves contain number of chemical constituents, mainly flavonoids. Chloroform extract of Phoenix dactylifera leaves at two doses, viz., 200 and 400 mg /kg were evaluated by ethanol induced method using Ranitidine (50mg/kg) as standards. The standard drugs and the test drugs were administered orally for 14 days in ethanol induced method. The results of the present study showed that the chloroform extract of Phoenix dactylifera leaves possessed gastro protective activity as evidenced by its significant inhibition of mean ulcer score and ulcer index. The present experimental findings suggest that leaves of Phoenix dactylifera may be useful for treating peptic ulcers. Preliminary phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of the bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, anthroquinones, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids and tannins. Pharmacognostical studies such as extractive values, physiochemical parameters and fluorescence analysis brought out the standardized data in the quality control of this drug. Powdered drug analysis after treatment with 10 different reagents emitted various colour radiations under UV and visible light which may provide a lead in identification of the drug in powder form. The study revealed specific identities for Phoenix dactylifera linn. This may play a key role in identification of plant and can be useful in standardization of the herbal drugs.

Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera leaves, Ethanol induced method, Ranitidine, Ulcer, Flavonoids