Assessment of phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Leucas zeylanica [L.] R.Br. [Family: Lamiaceae]

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to investigate the antioxidant, neuropharmacological, analgesic and antimicrobial activities of the EtOH extract of the whole plant of Leucas zeylanica. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of gums, carbohydrate, reducing sugar, phenols, tannins [gallic acid], cardiac glycosides and saponins. TLC-based antioxidant assay by DPPH free radical revealed positive activity of the extract and in quantitative assay IC[50] value was 62.9 microg/ml. The extract potentiated the phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice in a dose dependent manner. From the study of analgesic activity using the model of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice it was found that the extract exhibited [***p<0.001] writhing inhibition was dose dependent. The extract showed moderate antimicrobial activity