Abstract
Hibiscus tiliaceus, locally known as Bhola was examined for phytochemical properties and its cytotoxic, antibacterial, analgesic and neuropharmacological activities using the ethanol extract of leaf and bark. The phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract indicated the presence of tannins, whereas bark extract indicated the presence of alkaloid, reducing sugar and tannins. A preliminary cytotoxicity of these extracts was determined by a simple and low cost assay using brine shrimp lethality. The leaf extract of the plant exhibited moderate cytotoxic effect (LC50: 20 µg/ml, LC90: 40 µg/ml) whereas the bark extract exhibited low cytotoxic effect (LC50: 50 µg/ml). In the analgesic test, the leaf extract showed comparatively high analgesic action than bark extract. There was no activity found in the leaf extract against the test bacterial strains, however bark extract exhibited a very little inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In the neuropharmacological test, the leaf and bark extract produced a decrease in both the time of onset of sleeping and the total sleeping time. The present study showed evidence that both leaf and bark extract of H. tiliaceus contain medicinally important bioactive compounds, thereby used as traditional medicine.
Highlights
Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae) is a typical plant of tropical climates found in the regions of mangroves in significant quantities in Bangladesh as well as subtropical America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and throughout the Pacific islands (Rosa et al 2006)
The plant was used as a traditional medicine by the people for the treatment of fever, coughs and dry throat, ear infections, chest congestion, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid (Shaikh et al 2009; Ramproshad et al 2012)
Phytochemical properties The results of phytochemical group test revealed that only tannins were present in the leaf extract, whereas alkaloids, reducing sugar and tannins were found in the bark extract (Table 1)
Summary
Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae) is a typical plant of tropical climates found in the regions of mangroves in significant quantities in Bangladesh as well as subtropical America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and throughout the Pacific islands (Rosa et al 2006). The plant was used as a traditional medicine by the people for the treatment of fever, coughs and dry throat, ear infections, chest congestion, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid (Shaikh et al 2009; Ramproshad et al 2012). The extract of H. tiliaceus was reported to have various interesting pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity (Tambe and Bhambar 2014; Ramproshad et al 2012; Borhade et al 2012; Narender et al 2009). In Malaysia and Indonesia, leaves were used to cool fevers soothe coughs and remove phlegm, whereas fresh buds were chewed and swallowed for dry throat. Fresh bark soaked in water was used for chest congestion.
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