Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of Alocasia indica Schott tuber.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate potential antioxidant, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activities of the ethanol extract of Alocasia indica Schott tuber in different experimental models established in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay. Phenolic content was estimated by using Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent while reducing ability was measured by ferric reducing power assay. In vivo antidiarrheal studies were carried out in mice, and the activity was evaluated in castor oil and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea. Disk diffusion assay was utilized to determine antibacterial activity against a number of pathogenic bacterial strains. Acute toxicity test was carried out to measure the safe doses for the extract.


RESULTS
In DPPH radical-scavenging assay, the extract exhibited strong radical-scavenging activity with the 50% inhibitory concentration value of 42.66 μg/mL. Total phenolic content was found to be 542.26 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of dried tuber extract, whereas flavonoid content was found to be 4.30 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried tuber extract. In reducing power assay, the extract showed strong reducing power in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced the latent period and decreased defecation in both castor oil- and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea. The extract also lessened gastrointestinal motility in mice. Potential antibacterial activity was exhibited by the extract against all the tested bacterial strains in disk diffusion assay. The 50% lethal concentration against brine shrimp nauplii was 81.09 μg/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that the ethanol extract of A. indica has potential antioxidant, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity.
Phytochemistry and Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh; E-mail: khairul08ku@gmail.com.
Md Khirul
MK
Islam
Imran
I
Mahmud
Sanjib
S
Saha
Asit Baron
AB
Sarker
Himangsu
H
Mondal
A S M
AS
Monjur-Al-Hossain
Md
M
Anisuzzman
D031055:Alocasia / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts