Elucidation of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Nature of Methanolic Extract of Ixora cuneifolia

Abstract

This study describes the preliminary phytochemical and pharmacological investigations on Ixora cuneifolia, which is an unexplored medicinal plant belonging to the family of Rubiaceae, widely distributed in hilly forests of Bangladesh. The present study protocol was undertaken to evaluate anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, thrombolytic, and antioxidant properties with phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of I. cuneifolia for the first time in Bangladesh. Anthelmintic property was tested by using Perthima posthuma. Streptokinase enzyme was used as the standard for thrombolytic test, and antioxidant property was calculated as Gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Finally, antidiarrheal activity was tested by following castor oil induced method with Swiss albino mice as experimental animals. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates, phytosterols, protein, and terpenes in the crude methanolic extract. I. cuneifolia showed significant antidiarrheal activity at 200 mg/kg dose following castor oil induced method and anthelminthic assay yielded positive results at 60 mg/ml and 80 mg/ml concentration. In thrombolytic assay, the plant extract showed significant thrombolytic activity (33.03%, p<0.05). Total phenolic content determination as an antioxidant activity confirmed that, the plant extract possesses moderate antioxidant activity. The current study data confirmed that methanolic extract of I. cuneifolia possesses remarkable anthelmintic, thrombolytic, antioxidant, and antidiarrheal activity.