Phytochemical and Antioxidant Investigation of Barringtonia acutangula (L.)

Aims: Different crude extracts of Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn were subjected to vigorous phytochemical and pharmacological investigations to validate the traditional use and to find out any other therapeutic activities.

Study Design: The present study was dedicated to investigate phytochemical and pharmacological properties of different parts of the plant extracted with various solvents (petroleum ether, methanol).

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, between June 2010 and July 2011.

Methodology: Phytochemical study was done through conducting preliminary phytochemical group tests of the crude extracts of leaf and bark. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay, NO radical scavenging assay.

Results: In DPPH radical and NO radical scavenging methods, a dose dependent scavenging different phytoconstituents including carbohydrate, glycoside, saponin, steroids was found distributed in all parts of the plant where as alkaloid and tannin was found only in the leaf extractives. Highest DPPH radical scavenging was demonstrated by pet. Ether extract of bark with IC50 value of 8037.5 μg/ml whereas IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was noted as 16.88 μg/ml. In case of NO radical scavenging method, highest NO radical scavenging was demonstrated by pet ether extract of bark with IC50 values of 295.27 μg/ml whereas IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was 35.52 μg/ml.

Conclusion: The phytochemical screening revealed chemical constituents that form the foundation of their pharmacological activity. Leaf and Bark of the plant has good efficacy against many oxidation processes in our body.