Wood apple botanically identified as Limonia acidissima is an indigenous fruit with amazing nutritional and health benefits. Reports from traditional literature of Ayurveda and Siddha portrays the medicinal properties of this fruit. The scooped pulp of the ripe fruit is consumed as such or it can be made into different recipes. But inclusion of this fruit in our diet is not found as a regular practice. Many people are still unaware of the benefits of this fruit. Hence, this study was taken up to unravel the biological potencies of this fruit by conducting in vitro experiments. Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and ascorbic acid have been estimated. Anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of fruit pulp combined with outer rind has been evaluated through inhibition of albumin denaturation. Among the 5 different concentrations (200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 µg/ml), at 1000 µg/ml wood apple has shown 74.55% of protein denaturation inhibition which was compared with standard Diclofenac sodium. Antioxidant capacity of the extract was expressed as mg/100g ascorbic acid equivalent through phosphomolybdenum assay. Dose dependent increase in the antioxidant activity was observed. About 8 different concentrations of the aqueous extract of L. acidissima were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on MCF 7 cell line. At a concentration of 1000 µg/ml, the extract has shown 93.43% of cytotoxicity and 6.57% of cell viability. Apoptotic induction was evaluated and confirmed by the formation of DNA ladders through DNA fragmentation assay. GCMS analysis of wood apple fruit pulp and rind revealed the presence of several phytochemicals among which many of them had therapeutic activity reported earlier.
Venkatalakshmi et al.: Immunomodulatory Potential of Terminalia catappa LModulation of immunity is the most sought therapeutic effect as many human ailments arise because of imbalance in immune mechanisms. In the current corona virus disease scenarios also, the role of immunity to combat the dreadful virus has been well emphasized. Hence the present study aims at evaluating the immunomodulatory potential of aqueous extract obtained from the different parts such as bark, fruit and wood of Terminalia catappa. Based on the results obtained in acute oral toxicity and dose fixation studies, medium dose (250 mg/kg body weight) of selected plant extracts were administered for 14 d to swiss albino mice to evaluate nonspecific (neutrophil adhesion, phagocytic index) and specific (hemagglutination antibody titer, delayed type hypersensitivity) immunomodulatory properties. The results obtained for plant extract treated groups were compared with cyclophosphamide (immunosuppressant) treated and levamisole (immunostimulant) treated mice. From the data of the results obtained it could be concluded that selected parts of Terminalia catappa have immune stimulatory as well as anti-inflammatory properties, thereby proving their efficacy as true immunomodulators. Among the parts selected, fruits exhibited significant immunomodulatory potential followed by bark and wood.
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