Bioactivities of leaf and root extract of Ceriscoids turgida (Roxb.)

Abstract

In traditional medicine leaf and root of Ceriscoides turgida (Roxb.) are commonly used to treat indigestion in child, leucorrhoea, dog bite, snake bite, scorpion string, epilepsy, stomachache and a number of ailments. The present study was carried out to investigate antioxidant, analgesic, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of methanol extract of leaves and roots of C. turgida. Total flavonoids content was spectrophotometrically determined using aluminum chloride colorimetric assay while total phenolic and tannin content by Folin Chiocalteu’s reagent. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power assay. Analgesic activity was assessed by acetic acid induced writhing method. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion assay while brine shrimp lethality bioassay was carried out to verify the cytotoxic potential. Root extract contains greater amount of total phenolic (79.99 mg GAE/g dry extract) and flavonids content (35.27 mg QE/g dry extract) in comparison to leaf extract (30.75 mg GAE/g and 25.93 mg QE/g dry extract respectively). Root extracts showed DPPH scavenging (157.45 μg/mL) that was comparable to standard ascorbic acid (14.15 μg/mL). Reducing power of root extract was prominent than leaf extract in comparison to ascorbic acid. Both extract showed significant (P < 0.01) analgesic activity. In disc diffusion assay leaf extract showed greater antibacterial activity than root extract. Furthermore, extracts showed moderate cytotoxic effect. The present study demonstrates that methanol extract of C. turgida leaf and root has significant antioxidant and analgesic effect. The extracts also showed moderate antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.