Bioactivity of xanthium indicum koen. (compositae) leaf

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore the bioactivities (antidiarrheal, cytotoxic and antibacterial) of the ethanol extract of xanthium indicum (compositae) leaf. Different phytochemical tests were carried out for the detection of different chemicalgroups present in the ethanol leaf extract of xanthium indicum. By the preliminary phytochemical tests, reducing sugar, alkaloid, tannin, gum, glycoside and lavonoid were found. In vivo antidiarrhoeal activity was investigated on castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Brine shrimp lethality bioassay and disc diffusion method was carried out for the cytotoxic and antibacterial activity test respectively. The crude leaf extract showed mild antidiarrhoeal effect at the dose of 250 and 500mg/kg body weight compared to the standard drug loperamide(50mg/kg). The extract revealed strong cytotoxic effect having LC50 of 20μg/ml and LC90 of 80μg/ml and appeared very potent in term of zone of inhibition against staphylococcus aureus (20mm), streptococcus pyogenes (20mm) and staphylococcus epidermidis (20mm) compared to standard antibiotic (Kanamycin30μg/disc) which was staphylococcus aureus (22mm), streptococcus pyogenes (20mm) and staphylococcus epidermidis (29mm). All these findings established the pharmacological value of the leaf of xanthium indicum and justified the traditional use of this plant.