Isolation, Characterisation and Evaluation of Anti-asthma activity of Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Abstract

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is also commonly known as peacock flower, belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. Reported biological activities of the plant Caesalpinia pulcherrima L.are antimicrobial, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial, antiwrinkle. The present study was undertaken to isolate, characterise and evaluate the in-vitro anti-asthmatic activity of the whole plant of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L using goat tracheal chain method. Presence of phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids were observed in whole plant of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. The main components identified were 8-methoxybonducellin, 6-methoxypulcherrimin, myricitroside and isobonducellin. The structure of the isolated compounds was elucidated on the basis of FTIR spectrum and GC-MS spectrum as well as by comparison with available data in the literature. It was observed that ethanolic extract (300 μg, 400 μg) of Caesalpinia pulcherrima showed significant dose dependent antiasthmatic activity in goat tracheal chain model. While chloroform extract (300 μg, 400 μg) and petroleum ether (300 μg , 400 μg) showed satisfactory activity. Thus results reported in the present work shows evidence that the ethanol extract of C. pulcherrima shows potent anti-asthmatic activity.