Phytochemical screening and evaluation of the pharmacological activities of ethanolic extract of Argemone mexicana Linn. aerial parts

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate different phytochemical groups present in ethanolic extract of Argemone mexicana aerial parts (EAMA) as well as to assess the analgesic, antidiarrheal, antibacterial, anthelmintic and cytotoxic activities of EAMA. Moreover, peripheral and central analgesic activities were evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced paw licking test, tail immersion test and hot plate test. In vivo castor oil-induced diarrheal model and magnesium sulphate induced diarrheal model in mice were utilized for the assessment of antidiarrheal activity. Again, antibacterial activity was evaluated using disc diffusion assay. Anthelmintic activity was carried out on Paramphistomum cervi (Trematoda). Cytotoxic activity was assessed through brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The extract demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, glycosides and gums in phytochemical screening. In case of acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin induced paw licking test, both lower and higher doses of EAMA showed significant percentage inhibition of writhing as well as paw licking respectively (*P < 0.05, vs. control). EAMA at the doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg revealed significant latency response (*P < 0.05, vs. control) in delayed phase in both tail immersion as well as hot plate test. Moreover, significant percentage inhibition (*P < 0.05, vs. control) of diarrhea was exposed by both doses of EAMA in in vivo diarrheal models. In disc diffusion assay, EAMA showed antibacterial activities against both gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. Again, the extract exhibited anthelmintic and cytotoxic activity in a dose dependent manner.