English

Abstract

The crude methanol extract of leaves of Jasminum matthewii as well as its hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and aqueous soluble partitionates were subjected to screening for antioxidant, cytotoxic, thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-diarrheal and central nervous system depressant activity assays. The antioxidant potential was evaluated in terms of total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activity using butylated hydroxytolune (BHT) and ascorbic acid as standards. Among the test samples of J. matthewii, the highest free radical scavenging activity was demonstrated by the aqueous soluble fraction (IC50= 41.55±0.51 µg/ml), whereas in case of brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the hexane soluble fraction revealed the highest cytotoxic activity with LC50 value 0.19±0.32 μg/ml. In thrombolytic activity assay, the aqueous soluble fraction of J. matthewii extractives showed 62.29±0.29% of clot lysis, whereas standard streptokinase demonstrated 66.77% clot lysis. Among the test samples, the crude methanol extract inhibited 70.15±0.39% haemolysis of red blood cells induced by hypotonic solution. In case of heat-induced condition, the aqueous soluble fraction demonstrated 25.25±0.31% inhibition of haemolysis of red blood cells. None of the test samples revealed any zone of inhibition in disc diffusion assay. In peripheral analgesic activity assay, the crude methanol extract of J. matthewii demonstrated 51.02% inhibition of writhing at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight dose compared to 74.49% inhibition by standard diclofenac sodium. In anti-diarrheal activity assay, the methanolic crude extract reduced diarrheal feces by 89.00±0.15% at 400 mg/kg dose. J. matthewii extractives potentiated phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time in a dose dependent manner. Key words: Jasminum matthewii, free radical scavenging activity, brine shrimp lethality, thrombolysis, membrane stabilization, hypotonic solution, zone of inhibition, writhing.