The current research study has been carried out to explore the antioxidant activity and brine shrimp lethality bioassay of different fractions from the flower extract of Spilanthes acmella. Besides, this experiment was also assessed to find out the proximate analysis and phytochemical screening by following the perfect protocol. To fractionate by soxhletion using sequential extraction techniques powdered flower of the plant were treated with different solvents including n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol and water. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, total antioxidant capacity determination, determination of total phenolic content and total Flvonoids contents by aluminium tricholoride method were used. In addition, ascorbic acid and gallic acid was used as a standard antioxidant compound in these studies. Concerning the proximate analysis, moisture content, total ash value, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash value were found 8.6%, 3.76%, 3.30%, 3.20% respectively. To evaluate cytotoxicity, the brine shrimp lethality bioassay was used. For phytochemical screening different extract of those solvents were utilized that disclosed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, Tannins, amino acids on different fractions but the absence of reducing sugar and saponins. The results of all assay showed that all the extracts of Spilanthes acmella flower possess significant antioxidant activity. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, ethanol extract of flower effect to brine shrimp nauplii and exhibiting highest toxicity having LC₅₀ value 1.20 μg/ml as compared to standard dimethyl sulfoxide (LC₅₀ 1.31 µg/ml). These evaluations suggest that Spilanthes acmella flowers might be a better source of antioxidants and possess important cytotoxic effect.

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Background: Medicinal plants are the major sources of traditional treatment of disease and new drug discovery due to major side effects of synthetic drug. Objectives: The aim of study was to evaluate analgesic and antioxidant activities of petroleum ether and chloroform soluble fractions of whole plant extract of Acanthus ilicifoius. Materials and Methods: The plant extract, standard diclofenac, and distilled water as control was administered post orally in Swiss albino mice and observe the analgesic activity by acetic acid (0.6%) induced writhing method. The plant extract was also subjected to perform reducing power assay, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and FRAP assay to evaluate antioxidant activity. Results: The pet ether, and chloroform soluble fraction of plant extract revealed significant analgesic activity on mice model. Notably, the pet ether and chloroform fraction showed (40.14 ± 2.32) % and (40.12 ± 0.9) % analgesic inhibition, whereas standard diclofenac revealed (52.79 ± 2.62) % analgesic inhibition. In antioxidant activity assay, the plant extract showed mild to moderate antioxidant activities compare to standard ascorbic acid. Conclusion: From the results, it could be concluded that, the pet ether and chloroform fractions of whole plant extract of A. ilicifolius possesses potential analgesic and antioxidant properties.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance

Corchorus trilocularis Linn leaves are consumed as green leafy vegetables that are boiled and used as relish, or potherb by some rural communities in Eastern Africa for the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Aim: This study investigated the gastro-protective effects of Corchorus trilocularis Linn (local name ‘mrenda’), a popularly consumed vegetable in Kenya, on diclofenac-induced gastric ulcers and established its possible mechanisms of action.

Methods: In the in-vivo study, thirty six Sprague dawley rats of either sex weighing 150-200 grams were randomly assigned into a normal control (distilled water), negative control (distilled water plus diclofenac sodium), treatment (200 and 400 mg/kg Corchorus trilocularis Linn plus diclofenac sodium), positive control group (omeprazole plus diclofenac sodium), or comparison group (400 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of spinach). The ulcer index, total acidity, volume, pH of gastric secretions, and gastric morphology were assessed. In the in-vitro anti-acidity study, a rat stomach was perfused with Kreb’s solution and the pH of the mucosal perfusate measured using a digital pH meter for 1 hour after exposure to histamine, acetylcholine, or pre-treatment with 400 mg/kg of the extract prior to addition the acid secretagogues.

Results: The extract, significantly reduced the ulcer index and total acidity in comparison to the diclofenac group. The high dose extract also increased the gastric pH and had cytoprotective effects. However, it did not significantly affect the volume of gastric secretions. In the in-vitro study, the extract significantly inhibited histamine and acetylcholine stimulated gastric acid secretions as analyzed by the areas under curve for pH against time.

Conclusions. The gastro-protective effects of Corchorus trilocularis Linn against diclofenac induced gastric ulcers are; therefore, mediated through preservation of the gastric mucosal barrier, increase in gastric pH, and inhibition of gastric acid secretion through the histamine H₂ and acetylcholine M₃ extracellular pathways on the parietal cell.

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Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the thrombolytic, antioxidant and analgesic activity of plant extract of Rudbeckia hirta, a medicinal plant of Asteraceae family.

Materials and Methods: For thrombolytic activity, a standard in vitro method was applied. Antioxidant activity was measured by employing method of Folin–Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) or Folin's phenol reagent or Folin–Denis reagent, also called the gallic acid equivalence method (GAE) in which the total phenolic content of methanol extract was determined. Analgesic potential of the methanolic extract was tested using the model of acetic acid induced writhing in mice.

Results: The thrombolytic activity measured by a standard method revealed that this plant extract has a dose dependent thrombolytic activity. GAE method showed that the total phenolic content of methanol extract of Rudbeckia hirta was 24.56 mg of GAE/gm of extract. The analgesic activities of the plant extract were significant (p< 0.05) at the dose of 500 mg/kg-body weight in comparison with control animals; however, the activity was less than that of diclofenac Na (standard). 

Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Rudbeckia hirta leaves have moderate thrombolytic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

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