Phytopharmacological Evaluation of Different Solvent Extract/Fractions From Sphaeranthus indicus L. Flowers: From Traditional Therapies to Bioactive Compounds

Sphaeranthus indicus L. is a medicinal herb having widespread traditional uses for treating common ailments. The present research work aims to explore the in-depth phytochemical composition and in vitro reactivity of six different polarity solvents (methanol, n-hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) extracts/fractions of S. indicus flowers. The phytochemical composition was accomplished by determining total bioactive contents, HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification, and UHPLC-MS secondary metabolomics. The reactivity of the phenolic compounds was tested through the following biochemical assays: antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelation) and enzyme inhibition (AChE, BChE, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, urease, and tyrosinase) assays were performed. The methanol extract showed the highest values for phenolic (94.07 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (78.7 mg QE/g extract) contents and was also the most active for α-glucosidase inhibition as well as radical scavenging and reducing power potential. HPLC-PDA analysis quantified rutin, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, and epicatechin in a significant amount. UHPLC-MS analysis of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts revealed the presence of well-known phytocompounds; most of these were phenolic, flavonoid, and glycoside derivatives. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest inhibition against tyrosinase and urease, while the n-hexane fraction was most active for α-amylase. Moreover, principal component analysis highlighted the positive correlation between bioactive compounds and the tested extracts. Overall, S. indicus flower extracts were found to contain important phytochemicals, hence could be further explored to discover novel bioactive compounds that could be a valid starting point for future pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals applications.

Phytotoxic Effect Of Aqueous Extracts of Different Plant Parts Of Sphaeranthus Indicus On Germination And Seedling Growth Of Eleasine Coracana

BackgroundThe phytotoxic influences of water extract of different plant parts of Sphaeranthus indicus (Burandu) were tested by growing test crop of Eleasine coracana (Nagli) for seedling growth. Significant differences in the growth of the test crop were observed. ResultThe hypocotyl growth of test crop depressed significantly at high concentration (6%) aqueous extract of different plant parts of S. indicus was found after 10 days. Redicle length of Nagli crop was stimulated in 2% shoot aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus indicus whereas other concentrations of all aqueous extracts of Burandu weed show phytotoxic effects as compared to control after ten days. Shoot and Root dry weights of food crop were reduced by Burandu residue. ConclusionTest crop Nagli was more sensitive to root aqueous extract while less sensitive to shoot aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus indicus.

Evaluation of Acute, Subacute and LD50 values of Methanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus leaves in Albino mice

Sphaeranthus indicus is one of the extremely precious herbs in the Indigenous System of Medicine. The present study was carried out to acute, subacute and LD50 values of methanolic extract of S. indicus leaves in Swiss mice of both sexes. The acute toxicity studies were conducted oral administration of 1.75, 5.5, 17.5, 55, 175, 550, 2000mg/kg body weight SIME used. Observations were recorded systemically up to 24 h after dose administration for behavior related to nervous system response or autonomic functions. Food and water intake, body weight variations, hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed. In sub acute toxicity treatment there were no significant variation in the body weights and haematological parameters except dose-dependent increase in lymphocyte count was noted in both sexes supported immunostimulant activity. Pathologically, significant protective effect on hepatic, renal functions and decreased cholesterol, triglyceride levels. The results did not show any treatment related abnormalities in terms of hematological and biochemical parameters in sub-acute toxicity. After acute administration, no mortality was recorded in mice treated with the SIME orally at a dose of 1000mg/kg. The LD50 values were determined using graphical method; we found a broad therapeutic window and a high therapeutic index value showed that the LD50 of the extract is 2480mg/kg. The results suggest that the plant seems to be high margin of drug safety in mice.

Physicochemical and Phytochemical Studies on Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. with HPTLC Fingerprinting

Ayurveda, the oldest paradigm of health and healing known to the world, grew out of the Rishi tradition. The medical and research community is constantly seeking for new natural agents. Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Gorakhmundi, Family: Asteraceae), is widely used in Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat various diseases. The present investigation was designed to perform physicochemical and phytochemical analysis with HPTLC fingerprints of Sphaeranthus indicus (leave, flower, and stem) to establish the standard parameters of this herb. Different analytical parameters like extractive values, total ash, acid insoluble ash and water-soluble ash, moisture content, pH values of different parts of the drug were performed. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done to detect and quantify different active constituents such as alkaloids, flavanoids, proteins and total poly phenol using various analytical methods. Our preliminary data of phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of steroids, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoid, flavonoid, tannins, alkaloids, resin and saponin. In the current study we established the HPTLC fingerprint of the extract using phytochemical standards. We believe that our study provides a substantial data for identification, purification, standardization, and phytochemical characterization of novel therapeutic compounds that can be used potential drug to combat various diseases for betterment of mankind. Keywords: Sphaeranthus indicus, Ayurveda, physicochemical, UV- Spectrophotometer, HPTLC

Comparative Studies of Phytochemicals Analysis and in vitro Antioxidant Properties of Various Solvent Extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus Collected from three Different Climatic Zones of Central India

In present study, the total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin contents and the antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus collected from three different regions of central India were assessed. Plants extracts were prepared using Soxhlation method, while the total phenols, flavonoids and tannins were measured by the spectrophotometric method. DPPH, metal chelating, nitric oxide, superoxide oxide scavenging activity and FRAP, reducing power, total antioxidant assays were also evaluated. The highest phenolic contents 268.22 GAE equivalent, flavonoids 441.33 QE equivalents and tannin content was 120.32 tannic acid equivalents (mg/g) obtained from ethanolic extracts of sample SIEE-1 compared to other two plants extract. Similarly, the highest flavonoid contents was observed in SIAE-1 aqueous extract and lowest in SIAE-2 and SIAE-3. Extract of SIEE-1 possessed maximum antioxidant potentiality and SIAE-2 shown the least antioxidant activity in all assays. It could be concluded that different agroclimatic conditions have effects on the total phenolics, flavonoids, tannin contents and antioxidant potentiality of S. indicus plant.

In vitro antimitotic and cytotoxic potential of plant extracts: a comparative study of Mucuna pruriens, Asteracantha longifolia and Sphaeranthus indicus

Background Plants have been used in alternative and traditional medicines for the cure of different types of diseases since ancient time. Secondary metabolites from natural sources play a crucial role in the treatment of various ailments. The present study carried out to investigate the phytochemical, antimitotic and cytotoxic activity of methanolic (95%) extracts of Mucuna pruriens seeds, Asteracantha longifolia seeds and Sphaeranthus indicus stems. Result Phytochemical analysis was performed using qualitative test to confirm the presence of phytochemical such as flavonoids, terpenoids, amino acids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, tannins, phenols and carbohydrates. The antimitotic activity was screened by using Allium cepa root meristematic cells. Methotrexate (0.1 mg/mL) was used as a standard. The data was analyzed by using software GraphPad Prism, Version 6.0 (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA) with one-way ANOVA. A statistical difference of p < 0.05 was considered significant in all cases. p value of M. pruriens seeds, A. longifolia seeds and S. indicus stems calculated p = 0.0001 for all plant extracts. Cytotoxic potential of all three plant extracts have been studied on breast cancer cell line MCF7 and lung cancer cell line A549. M. pruriens showed mild cytotoxicity with IC50 values 36.74 μg/mL on MCF7 and 39.42 μg/mL on A549 cell line. A. longifolia showed better activity on MCF7 with IC50 of 12.32 μg/mL and the S. indicus showed the least activity on MCF7 with IC50 of 185.56 μg/mL. The A. longifolia showed better activity on A549 with IC50 of 16.53 μg/mL. Conclusion A. longifolia has significant amount of nearly all phytochemicals as compared to other two plant extracts. It is found that all three plant extracts showed antimitotic activity having p value less than 0.05. The cytotoxicity assay revealed that all plant extracts displayed inhibition of MCF7 and A549 cells lines. A. longifolia showed better activity against MCF7 while M. pruriens possessed mild cytotoxic effect against both MCF7 and A549 cell lines.

In vitro evaluation of antibacterial activity in ethanolic extract of whole plant Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.

Background: Sphaeranthus indicus Linn is a widely used medicinal plant in Indian traditional system of medicine against human pathogens. Alarming bacterial resistance is urging scientist to search for newer anti-microbial substances from the medicinal plants. The objective of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of the whole plant Sphaeranthus indicus Linn (Asteraceae).Methods: The antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn was done against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus in Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) and compared with ciprofloxacin as standard by disc diffusion method.Results: The study revealed that there was no zone of inhibition in doses of 100 mcg, 200 mcg and 300 mcg of ethanolic whole plant extract of Sphaeranthus indicus in MHA plates compared with ciprofloxacin 30 mcg.Conclusions: Ethanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus does not have antibacterial activity. Further studies are needed in different extracts and parts of the plant. Simultaneous studies can be done in different places to evaluate environmental factors and regional variations.

Antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. against Dermatophytes and Candida species

Background: Sphaeranthus indicus as an entire plant or the specific parts like roots, leaves, flowers are used for treating helminthiasis, jaundice, diabetes, dyspepsia, fever, cough, hernia, gastritis, hemorrhoids, migraine, leprosy and skin diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of the whole plant Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Methods: The antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of the whole plant Sphaeranthus indicus Linn was evaluated by incorporating the extract in Sabourauds dextrose agar. This property was studied in vitro using the ethanolic extract on Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum by using Clotrimazole as standard drug.Results: This study revealed that the ethanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus is having good antifungal activity against Dermatophytes and Candida species. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the promising antifungal action of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. This feature can be exploited in the development of a newer antifungal agent from plant.