Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity & Cytotoxic Activity Evaluation of Spondias Pinnata Barks

Abstract

Spondias pinnata is a flowering and glabrous tree upto 10.5 m high with straight trunk and smooth ash coloured bark having pleasant aromatic smell. The leaves and bark are aromatic, astringent and useful in preventing vomiting, dysentery and diarrhoea. The purpose of the study was to investigate the phytochemical compounds and cytotoxic compounds from ethyl acetate extract which will be pharmacologically effective. From phytochemical screening, the presence of some compounds was found such as alkaloids, flavonols, phenols, steroidal compounds and saponins. This indicates, it will be effective pharmacologically. Antioxidant properties are also found by DPPH test, Total Reducing power test and Total phenol content test. The Reducing power test showed percentage of reducing potential which is similar to standard (ascorbic acid). Sometimes it showed greater potential than the standard indicates the presence of phenol and polyphenolic compounds. For example, in the concentration of 1000 (μg/ml) the reducing potential of extract was 24.397% and of the standard was 13.941%. DPPH scavenging activity test also showed similar activity as ascorbic acid. Here, the extract showed greater activity than the standard. The extract showed the IC50 of 409(μg/ml) and the standard showed IC50 of 425(μg/ml). Estimation of total phenolic content also determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and showed significant amount of phenolic compound’s presence. The extract showed greater absorbance than the standard. These indicate that, it will be effective pharmacologically to treat free radical mediated diseases. Cytotoxic activity was also found by Brine Shrimp Lethality test. The LD50 was measured for both the standard and the extract. The extract showed greater activity than the standard. That means the ethyl acetate extract of Spondias pinnata has potential cytoxic effect.