Pharmacognostic evaluation of leaf of Cordia macleodii Hook., An ethnomedicinally important plant

Abstract

Plants of ethnomedicinal importance have contributed for the development of many new pharmacologically effective molecules/chemical entities to modern medicine. India, the country having one of the richest biodiversity of its flora in its forest, with numerous tribal inhabitants, is able to contribute a lot from ethnomedicine to the ailing humanity. Cordia macleodii Hook. (Boraginaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant has been highlighted for its wound healing, aphrodisiac and hepatoprotective activities. It is a medium-sized tree, known as Panki/Shikari by the tribals, rarely found in the forests of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. So far, the plant has been studied neither for its pharmacognostical characters nor for its pharmacological actions except its hepatoprotective activity. Hence, it has been selected for a detailed investigation which includes pharmacognostic study of its leaf to find out the diagnostic characters and preliminary physicochemical analysis. Results of the study will help in identifying the plant pharmacognostically. Presence of alkaloids, glycosides and tannins were found during the study.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic Contents and Phytochemical Evaluation From Crude Extracts of an Endangered Plant Cordia Macleodii Hook. F. Thomson

“…The phytochemical isolated from the plant extract were known to have some medicinal properties. For example, saponins derived from the plants have been reported as antibacterial, wound healing [22,23]. Similarly, phenolic compound have been reported as a good antioxidants and alkaloid derived from C. macleodii has been also reported as antibacterial, cytotoxicity activity, acute toxicity and hepatoprotective activity [24,25].…”

Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the medicinal species of the genusCordia(Boraginaceae)

“…[147] Anticholinesterase Essential oil obtained from leaves was also reported to have anticholinesterase activity with IC 50 value of 105.6 lg/ml [147] C. globosa Antioxidant The methanol extract of the aerial parts displayed strong antioxidant activity in DPPH assays and b-carotene bleaching test [210] C. leucomalloides Larvicidal Essential oil obtained from leaves showed larvicidal activity against third-instar of Aedes aegypti larvae [211] C. macleodii Antimicrobial Water, methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract of leaves and stem were found to show significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However water extract displayed excellent activity compared to other extracts [212][213][214] Antioxidant…”

Evaluation of Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Cordia macleodii

“…Additionally, studies on Cordia species' antioxidant capability show that they have the ability to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Initial research on a number of Cordia species, including the ones mentioned above, points to a potential antioxidant effect, which implies that Cordia macleodii might exhibit similar traits (Bhide, Pillai, et al, 2011). Relatedly, studies on the Cordia species hint at the possibility of anti-diabetic properties linked to particular chemicals, suggesting that blood sugar management might be possible.…”

“…Phytoconstituents were determined qualitatively using different chemical methods. The Cordia macleodii bark's phytochemical screening revealed a variety of phytochemical compounds, including phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins , steroids, carbohydrates, terpenoids, triterpenoids, and glycosides (Bhide, Shukla, et al, 2011).…”