Investigation of Antidiarrheal, Analgesic, Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activities of the Aerial Parts of Flagellaria indica (Flagellariaceae)

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i2.11

Abstract

Flagellaria indica is a climbing plant traditionally used for the treatment of asthma, shortness of breath and fever. The present study was designed to investigate the phytoconstituents and biological activities (antidiarrheal, analgesic, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic) of the aerial part of Flagellaria indica (Flagellariaceae). Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and reducing sugars. The extract  showed significant (p < 0.01) antidiarrheal activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice in which it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight compared to loperamide (3 mg/kg body weight). In acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, the ethanol extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) exhibited significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of writhing reflex (43.55% and 60.9%, respectively) compared to standard diclofenac sodium (73.8%). The antidiabetic activity was assessed using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In OGTT, the extract dose-dependently reduced the blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight in comparison with standard oral antihyperglycemic drug glibenclamide. In the brine shrimp lethality test, the extract showed cytotoxicity with LC50 of 71.89 μg/mL using standard drug vincristine (LC50 0.39 μg/mL). All the results tend to justify the traditional uses of the plant.