Cytotoxic evaluation and phytochemical screening of an ethnomedicinal plant: Pterospermum rubiginosum from southern Western Ghats

Abstract

Pterospermum rubiginosum is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Sterculiaceae, different solvents like hexane, chloroform, acetone, and carbinol were used for sequential soxhlet extraction of air dried powdered bark, the obtained extracts stored at desiccators for phytochemical screening. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the different phytochemicals present in bark extracts for further detailed study and to enable proper documentation for conserving our traditional knowledge about endemic medicinal plants for the future generations. HPTLC fingerprint analysis of Pterospermum rubiginosum bark extract showed the presence of tannins, its derivatives and gallic acid. The cell viability of both methanolic and aqueous extracts was evaluated by MTT assay against lung fibroblast (L929) cell line and LC50 Value were found to be 150.32µg/mL and 135.17µg/mL for PRAQ and PRME respectively.

Targeting the Role of PRME in Regulating Bone Remodelling During Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

“…Dr. G. Valsaladevi, Curator, Department of Botany, University of Kerala, authenticated the plant specimen. Plant voucher specimen KUBH 6189 can be found in the herbarium of the Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India [8] . The plant material was washed adequately after removing the outer bark, dried inner plant bark, cut into pieces and kept for shade drying, homogenised into fine particles and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.…”

“…Plant voucher specimen KUBH 6189 can be found in the herbarium of the Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India. [8] The plant material was washed adequately after removing the outer bark, dried inner plant bark, cut into pieces and kept for shade drying, homogenised into fine particles and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Soxhlet apparatus was used to collect methanol extracts of plant materials (1 kg) at 66 °C using a sequential soxhlet apparatus, and then concentration was achieved using a rotary evaporator.…”

“…Pterospermum rubiginosum belongs to the family Malvaceae, used by local Kani tribal healers as "Ellooripatta" due to its excellent bone regeneration potential of bark. [8][9] Despite the numerous studies on the pharmacological potential of Pterospermum rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME) in invitro models, its effects on the PMO caused by estrogen deficiency are unknown. The chosen SD rat model has been a well-accepted rodent model for investigating bone erosion damage triggered by estrogen deficiency.…”

“…Natural product derivatives are commonly practised in different local and traditional systems of medicine to restore bone density by promoting bone formation. Pterospermum rubiginosum belongs to the family Malvaceae, used by local Kani tribal healers as “Ellooripatta” due to its excellent bone regeneration potential of bark [8–9] . Despite the numerous studies on the pharmacological potential of Pterospermum rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME) in invitro models, its effects on the PMO caused by estrogen deficiency are unknown.…”

In silico, anti-inflammatory and acute toxicological evaluation of an indigenous medicinal plant Pterospermum rubiginosum using Sprague-Dawley rats

“…A bark paste made from the inner bark of P.rubiginosum is applied to the fractured site with bamboo slides, similar to plaster or a bandage in modern medicine; the bark boiled in water is also offered to the patient to relieve inflammation at the fracture site. The leaf and bark extract mixed with warm oil for massage is commonly used in inflammation and pain relief treatment procedures [ 11 , 12 ]. The toxicological evaluation of natural products can be assessed by acute, sub-acute, and chronic toxicity studies using experimental animals.…”