Pharmacological investigations of roots of Bombax ceiba

Abstract

Plants have been an important source of medicines since the beginning of cultivation. There is a growing demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. Bombax ceiba Linn (Family: Bombacaceae) is a tall tree used by various tribal communities and forest dwellers for the treatment of a variety of ailments. The plant literature survey shows the plant possesses astringent, cooling, stimulant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, demulcent, and tonic effects and also helps in dysentery. It also possesses important pharmacological activity such as aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity in addition to anticancer and anti-HIV activity, anti-Helicobacter pylori, antiangiogenic, analgesic and antioxidant activity and hypotensive, hypoglycemic and antimicrobial activity. It is reported to contain important phytoconstituents such as naphthol, napthaquinone, polysaccharides, anthocyanins, shamimin and lupeol. These are the influencing information of this study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effects of the Dichloromethane root extract of Bombax ceiba.

The powdered root of Bombax ceiba was extracted with Dichloromethane. The concentrated crude Dichloromethane extract was then evaluated for antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

The antimicrobial activities of Dichloromethane crude extract of Bombax ceiba were tested against the Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The antimicrobial test was performed by disc diffusion method. The concentrations used in this study were 300 µg/ disc and 600 µg/ disc. The range of zone of inhibition was 7-10 mm.

The in vitro antioxidant activity test was performed by Aluminium Chloride colorimetric method in which the flavonoid concentration was measured by using a standard curve of Quercetin. The flavonoid concentration found was 7.847 ± 0.649 mg/L.

The cytotoxicity was performed by using brine shrimp hatched in the laboratory. The different concentrations of sample was used: 400 μg/ ml, 200 μg/ ml, 100 μg/ ml, 50 μg/ ml, 25 μg/ ml, 12.5 μg/ ml, 6.25 μg/ ml, 3.125 μg/ ml, 1.5625 μg/ ml and a blank with both positive and negative controlled test. The test result shows the lethal effect. From the test result LC50 has been determined which are 19.85 ± 0.89418 μg/ ml.