PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND INVITRO ANTI - INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AN IVY GOURD, COCCINIA GRANDIS

Nature has provided lead molecules for the betterment of humans. In recent years pharmaceutical sector is focusing on development of new drugs and plant based drugs through investigation of leads from folklore medicine which is being practiced for thousands of years. In India, Coccinia grandis (Cucurbitaceae) are used widely as vegetable. The objective of the present study is to investigate the phytochemical constituents and in vitro anti‐inflammatory activity of the fruit extract to justify their use in folkloric medicine. Phytochemical screening of Coccinia grandis fruit powder in organic solvent (methanol) revealed the presence of alkaloids (0.22±0.07mg), flavonoids (1.09±0.00mg), saponin (0.05±0.01mg) and phenol (17.01±0.02mg). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by Human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay (HRBS) by varying concentration of the fruit extract ranging from 100mg/ml to 500mg/ml. The results obtained in the study showed that the fruit extract of Coccinia grandis showed 44.46±0.09% and 84.63±0.04% anti-inflammatory activity for 100mg/ml and 500mg/ml concentration respectively, and the activity was found to be concentration dependent and proved folklore practice of the fruit extracts in curing various inflammatory responses.