Evaluation of phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory effects on methanol extracts of <i>Aeschynomene uniflora</i>

Abstract

Studies on Aeschynomene uniflora was carried out with the aim to establish scientific validation by evaluating the phytochemical constituents, toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the Methanol extract in order to probe its ethnomedical uses. Various phytochemical constituents from the plant were evaluated using standard method which reveals the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenes and tannins were present in the crude extract. Toxicity studies by using oral route showed no death in any group even at 5000 mg/ kg indicating its safety. Anti- inflammatory effects indicates its efficacy in which the dose at 1000 mg/kg showed more activity compared to Control followed by 250 mg/kg and then 500 mg/kg. The results obtained in this present study indicates the plant to have the potential to act as a source of useful drugs because of the presence of various primary and secondary metabolites. The results were very much encouraging but more scientific validation is necessary before being put into practice.

Keywords: Aeschynomene uniflora, Anti-inflammatory, Phytochemicals, Toxicity