Viscum orientale Willd. (Loranthaceae) has long been used in traditional medicine to treat pain, neuropharmacological disorders and various forms of tumor but not yet been reported. The aim of this study is to rationalize the traditional medicinal use of this plant by evaluating the methanol extract of V. orientale leaves (MEVOL) for anti-nociceptive, CNS depressant and antioxidant activities and to quantify the bioactive polyphenols present in this plant. Five polyphenolic compounds namely gallic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, and quercetin (17.54, 8.99, 99.61, 4523.31, and 100.15 mg/100 g of dry weight, respectively) have been identified in MEVOL using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography. Qualitative antioxidant activity determined by Thin Layer Chromatography indicated the presence of antioxidants. In quantitative antioxidant test using 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl, MEVOL exhibited strong free antioxidant activity in a dose dependant manner (IC50 = 6.63 μg/ml) compared with ascorbic acid (IC50 = 1.91 μg/ml) and butylatedhydroxyanisole (IC50 = 2.27 μg/ml) controls. Total phenolic content determined using Folin Ciocaltu reagent was found to be 73.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of extract, while flavonoid content estimated using aluminum chloride colorimetric method was 170.7 mg quercetin equivalent/g of extract. Anti-nociceptive activity of MEVOL measured using acetic acid and formalin induced pain models in mice was significant (p < 0.001). MEVOL showed 65.6 and 88.8% writhing inhibition at 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively, comparing with standard diclofenac-Na (75.2% inhibition) at 25 mg/kg body weight in acetic acid induced pain model. In formalin induced pain model, paw licking was inhibited 45.93 and 56.4% in early phase and 55.66 and 72.64% in late phase at 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively, while diclofenac-Na inhibited 60.47 and 61.32% in early and late phase at 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively. In neuropharmacological activity test, overall behavioral test significantly reinforced CNS depressant activity. Spontaneous motor activities were reduced (p < 0.05) in both hole cross and open field tests compared with diazepam. Antioxidant activity of MEVOL is likely due to the phenolic and flavonoid compounds present within the leaf tissues. This study reveals significant in vivo anti-nociceptive and CNS depressant activities which justifies traditional medicinal applications of V. orientale.

Various forms of cancer are rising all over the world, requiring newer therapy. The quest of anticancer drugs both from natural and synthetic sources is the demand of time. In this study, fourteen extracts of different parts of eleven Bangladeshi medicinal plants which have been traditionally used for the treatment of different types of carcinoma, tumor, leprosy, and diseases associated with cancer were evaluated for their cytotoxicity for the first time. Extraction was conceded using methanol. Phytochemical groups like reducing sugars, tannins, saponins, steroids, gums, flavonoids, and alkaloids were tested using standard chromogenic reagents. Plants were evaluated for cytotoxicity by brine shrimp lethality bioassay using Artemia salina comparing with standard anticancer drug vincristine sulphate. All the extracts showed potent to moderate cytotoxicity ranging from LC50 2 to 115 µg/mL. The highest toxicity was shown by Hygrophila spinosa seeds (LC50 = 2.93 µg/mL) and the lowest by Litsea glutinosa leaves (LC50 = 114.71 µg/mL) in comparison with standard vincristine sulphate (LC50 = 2.04 µg/mL). Among the plants, the plants traditionally used in different cancer and microbial treatments showed highest cytotoxicity. The results support their ethnomedicinal uses and require advanced investigation to elucidate responsible compounds as well as their mode of action.

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