title: Ethnopharmacological investigation of the aerial part of Phragmites karka (Poaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this ethnopharmacological study, methanolic extract of the aerial plant parts of Phragmites karka (Family: Poaceae) and its petroleum ether and carbon tetrachloride fractions were investigated for bioactivities in Swiss-albino mice, namely, analgesic, central nervous system (CNS) depressant, hypoglycemic, and antidiarrheal activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cold methanolic extract of the aerial plant parts of Phragmites karka (MEPK) was first prepared, and it was then further fractionated as petroleum ether (PEFMEPK) and carbon tetrachloride (CTFMEPK) fractions. Analgesic activity was performed employing acidic acid-induced writhing test, central analgesic effect by radiant heat tail-flick method. CNS depressant activity was evaluated by phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time test. Hypoglycemic activity was tested by glucose tolerance test (GTT). Antidiarrheal activity was evaluated by castor oil-induced diarrhea method. For all in vivo tests, doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the mice model, the MEPK, PEFMEPK, and CTFMEPK fractions showed significant peripheral analgesic activity at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight with percentage of inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing 77.67 (p<0.001), 33.50 (p<0.001), and 40.29 (p<0.001), respectively, compared to the standard dichlofenac (60.68%, p<0.001) group. The hypoglycemic properties of MEPK, PEFMEPK, and CTFMEPK extracts were evaluated in normoglycemic mice where the reduction of blood glucose level after 30 min of glucose load were 69.85%, 78.91%, and 72.73%, respectively, and for standard glibenclamide, the reduction was 72.85%. All results were significant (p<0.05). In the case of the CNS depressant activity by phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time test, the crude ME significantly reduced sleep latency by 57.14% and increased the duration of sleep by 63.29% compared to the control, which were comparable to that of standard diazepam (65.71% and 77.62%, respectively). Among all the extract and fractions, methanolic extract showed the maximum antidiarrheal effect. The methanolic extract at 200 mg/kg dose induced a significant decrease in the total number of defecation in 4 h (69.05% of inhibition, p<0.001) and at 400 mg/kg dose showed 76.19% of inhibition (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of the available literature, these findings represent the first experimental investigation of biological activities of P. karka in the perspective of their traditional use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Chittagong, Chittagong.
authors.forename: Ramiz Ahmed
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong.
authors.forename: Mohammad Shah Hafez
authors.initials: MSH
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331.
authors.forename: Mir Muhammad Nasir
authors.initials: MMN
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Chittagong, Chittagong.
authors.forename: Mohi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka.
authors.forename: Zobaer Al
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka.
authors.forename: Sheikh Zahir
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Raihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka.
authors.forename: Nazmul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qais
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Phragmites karka; analgesic; anti-inflammatory; antidiarrheal; hypoglycemic activity