BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF DILLENIA INDICA L. BARK GROWING IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was designed to explore possible phytochemical characteristics (group determinant of plant extract) and to investigate the cytotoxic and anthelmintic potential in vitro, using the methan olic extract of bark of Dillenia indica growing in coastal region of Bangladesh. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract revealed the presence of alkaloid(s), carbohydrate(s), glycoside(s), phenol, tannin, protein(s), gum and mucilages. N hexane and et hyl acetate soluble fraction of Dillenia indica were screened for cytotoxic activity using brine shrimp lethality bioassay, where vincristine sulphate was used as a positive control. It was noticed that the methanolic extract and its fractions possess pote nt cytotoxic principles (with LC 50 value17.68 μ g / ml, 17.68 μ g / ml, 15.80 μ g / ml and LC 90 value 486.61, 287.66, 148.82 μg / ml respectively) compared with positive control vincristine sulphate (LC 50 0.631 μ g / ml and LC 90 value 13.51 μ g / ml). The other study was undertaken to evaluate anthelmintic activity where albendazole was used as reference standard. Methanolic extra ct of barks (25 mg / mL) caused paralysis of the worms at 136 minutes and death at 176.0 minutes while albendazole (positive control) paralyzed and killed the worms at 17.67 minutes and 48 minutes, respectively. The study confirms the mild anthelmintic act ivity of bark extract of Dillenia indica and therefore suggests the isolation of active principles through bioassay.