Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical and In Vivo Hepatoprotective Activity on Pongamia Pinnata Linn Bark

Abstract

Pongamia pinnata Linnn (Fabaceae) is a tree/shrub with a broad distribution from India, south-eastern Asia, Indonesia and Australia. Different parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine for bronchitis, whooping cough, rheumatic and diabetes. Transverse section and powder microscopy study of the bark showed phelloderms, cork cells, cortex cells, medullary rays, stone cells, calcium oxalate crystals and starch grains. The total ash 10.64% w/w. The acid insoluble ash 50.4% w/w, water soluble ash 49.1% w/w, The loss on dried 8% w/w, swelling index 5.4% w/w and foaming index was <100. The extractive values of bark powder of P. pinnata Linn was found to be more for ethanol solvent followed by distilled water, chloroform, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether. Preliminary phytochemical screening of hydro-alcoholic bark extract of P. pinnata Linn revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, and sterols gave positive reaction. The total phenolic, alkaloid and flavonoid contents of the hydro-alcoholic bark extract of P.pinnata Linn was found to be 68.96 ± 0.376 (mg GA/g). 52.06 ± 0.31 (mg AE/g) and 71.06 ± 0.11 (mg QE/g). From the column chromatography3-methoxy-(3´´,4´´-dihydro-3´´-hydroxy-4´´- acetoxy)-2´´,2´´-dimethylpyrano-(7,8:5´´,6´´)-flavone and Caryophyllene oxide compounds were isolated. The hydroalcoholic bark extract of P. pinnata Linn significantly decreases all the elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALKP, TBL, CHL and increases TPTN and ALB levels at 400 and 800 mg/kg in rats when compared to standard drug silymarin.