In-Vivo Neuropharmacological and Anti-Nutrient Study of Methanolic Extract of Lemna Minor

Abstract

Medicinal plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country. They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to rural people. They serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine. Lemna minor, the common duckweed is an aquatic freshwater aquatic plant of the genus Lemna. They belong to the family of Lemnaceae, which is monophyletic to the Araceae family. The study assesses In-vivo Neuropharmacological and Anti Nutrient Study of methanolic extract of Lemna minor. The plants were collected from Chandpur were extracted in methanol solvents using soxhlet apparatus. Chemical tests to identify different anti nutrients, total phenolic and flavonids were carried out using specific reagents. Several test such as open field test, hole cross test, hole board test and phenobarbital induced sleeping time test are performed to check possible neurological activity.The study of anti-nutrient properties showed a very high amount of tannin (5.625gm/kg) but a low amount of phytic acid (0.03gm/kg) & alkaloids (0.526gm/kg) comparison with standard value. Total phenolic (19.22 GAE/g dry weight) and flavonoids (7.68 QE/g dry weight) content determine that Lemna minor have a very good amount of phenolic and flavanoids content and which may act as good anti-oxidant. In the study of in-vivo neurological activity the efficacy of Lemna minorextract was compared with standard anxiolytic drug diazepam (1 mg/kg b.w.) showed limited sedation as well as anxiolytic properties in mice. The present study of in-vivo & anti-nutrient is biological evaluation of this plant forms a primary platform for further phytochemical, anti-nutrient & pharmacological studies.