Antimicrobial, Wound Healing And Antioxidant Activities Of <i>Anthocephalus cadamba</i>

Abstract

Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. Syn A. chinensis (Lamk) A. Rich (Rubiaceae) is ethnomedicinally widely used in the form of paste by tribe in western Ghats for treating skin diseases. In this context, antimicrobial potential of A. cadamba against a wide range of microorganisms was studied. To validate the ethnotherapeutic claims of the plant in skin diseases, wound healing activity was studied, besides antioxidant activity to understand the mechanism of wound healing. The alchoholic and aqueous extract of this plant showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against almost all the organisms: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and four fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum-dermatophyte fungi, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans-systemic fungi, with especially good activity against the dermatophyte (Trichophyton rubrum) and some infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus) with an MIC of 2.5 µg/disc. The results show that A. cadamba extract has potent wound healing capacity as shown from the wound contraction and increased tensile strength. The results also indicated that A. cadamba extract possesses potent antioxidant activity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity.

Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq., Rubiaceae, extract shows hypoglycemic effect and eases oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…The bark extract has also been reported to be traditionally used as a hypoglycemic agent in Bangladesh (Ghani, 1998). While previous bioactivity studies on this plant revealed its analgesic, anti-infl ammatory, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antimalarial, antihepatotoxic activities, and antidiarrheal and wound-healing properties (Umachigi et al, 2007;Alam et al, 2008a,b), the phytochemical investigations resulted in the isolation of indole alkaloids, secoiridoids, triterpenes and saponins from this plant (Banerji, 1977;1978;Brown & Chapple, 1976;Kitagawa et al, 1996;Sahu et al, 1999;. In continuation of our phytochemical and pharmacological screening of Bangladeshi medicinal plants (Uddin et al, 2005(Uddin et al, , 2007aDatta et al, 2007;Nayeem et al, 2006;Saha et al, 2007;Alam et al, 2008a,b;Mazid et al, 2009;Ara et al, 2010;Miah et al, 2010), we report on the hypoglycemic and oxidative stress-reducing activities of the hydroethanolic extract of the flowering tops of A. cadamba in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.…”

“…Bosser], Rubiaceae, is widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea (Banerji, 1977;1978;Sahu et al, 2000;Niranjan et al, 2000;GRIN Databases, 2010). Various parts of this plant have traditionally been used as an antidiuretic, in the treatment of fever, anemia and tumor, and for the improvement of semen quality (Umachigi et al, 2007;Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, 2010).…”

Antidiarrhoeal property of the hydroethanolic extract of the flowering tops of Anthocephalus cadamba

“…Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, 2007). While previous bioactivity studies on this plant revealed its antimicrobial, antioxidant and wound healing properties, antimalarial and antihepatotoxic activities (Umachigi et al, 2007), the phytochemical investigations resulted in the isolation of indole alkaloids, secoiridoids, triterpenes and saponins from this plant (Banerji, 1977;1978;Brown and Chapple, 1976;Kitagawa et al, 1996;Sahu et al, 1999;.…”

“…Bosser] of the family Rubiaceae is widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea (Banerji, 1977;1978;Sahu et al, 2000;GRIN Databases, 2007). Various parts of this plant have traditionally been used as an antidiuretic, in the treatment of fever, anaemia and tumour, and for the improvement of semen quality (Umachigi et al, 2007;Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, 2007).…”

Antinociceptive and gastro-protective effect of the ethanolic extract of the flowering top of Anthocephalus Cadamba Roxb

“…The flowers are yellow in color (Handa et al, 1984a). Plant parts are used as a folk medicine in the treatment of fever and anemia, as antidiuretic, and for improvement of semen quality (Umachigi et al, 2007). The leaves are recommended as a gargle in cases of stomatitis (Slkar et al, 1996).…”