Antinociceptive activity of the methanol extracts of leaves of Eugenia fruticosa (Roxb.) and Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) in Swiss albino mice.

The present study was designed to evaluate analgesic potential of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of the both Glycosmis pentaphylla (Rutaceae) and Eugenia fruticosa (Myrtaceae). The analgesic activity was evaluated using the acetic acid (0.7% i.p.)-induced writhing inhibition method in swiss albino mice. The methanolic extract of leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla, at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.001) reduced the number of writhes with 31.97% and 44.21% of inhibition, respectively compared to control group. The methanolic extracts of leaves of Eugenia fruticosa significantly and dose dependently reduced the pain threshold (p<0.001) with 51.02 and 72.1% of writhing inhibition when compared to the control group at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively which were comparable to that of the standard drug Diclofenac Na (65.31% inhibition of writhing, p<0.001). The results of the study demonstrated the potential antinociceptive activity of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla and Eugenia fruticosa which validated the traditional uses of the both plants in painful diseases and further investigations to elucidate the mechanism of action are required.

Central nervous system depressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.).

The ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) was intended to evaluate the effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using a number of neuropharmacological experimental models in mice. The extract, at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, were shown to have CNS depressant activity by the reduction of locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field and hole cross tests. These results suggest that the extract possess CNS depressant activity. The results of statistical analysis showed that the plant extract had significant, (p<0.001) dose dependent, CNS depressant activities when compared to the control.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of methanolic extracts of leaves and stems of Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extracts of Glycosmis pentaphylla stems and leaves. Efforts have been given to identify the activities by using highest grade solvent for preparing the extracts. A survey of the antioxidant effect was performed using DPPH method. The methanolic extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla stems showed moderate antioxidant property (103.35 μg/ml) where the leaves showed very little (337.62 μg/ml). This antioxidant activity may be due to some polyphenolic compounds identified from this plant. Both the extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity with the highest zone of inhibition for E. coli (23.67±0.76 mm) and Salmonella paratyphi (15.33±0.76 mm) among the tested micro-organisms. This inhibition may legit the traditional implication of the stems of G. pentaphylla as toothbrush. The cytotoxic activity of stems extract of G. pentaphylla was found to be highly potent (5.53 μg/ml, 95% CI, 7.27-4.21) where as the leaves also showed significant activity (47.34 μg/ml, 95% CI, 50.77- 44.15). Several antitumor alkaloids were identified from this plant in the laboratory. The study results also indicate that Glycosmis pentaphylla is a good source of medicinally important compounds.