Phytochemical Screening and Biological Studies of Boerhavia Diffusa Linn

AbstractHexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of whole plant of Boerhavia diffusa were screened for phytochemical andbiological activities. Qualitative phytochemical screening via colorimetric method and the quantitative estimation ofphenolic and flavonoid content were performed. Antioxidant assay using DPPH scavenging method was studied.Antimicrobial screening of plant extracts was done by cup diffusion technique. Cytotoxic activity of B. diffusa was studiedby brine shrimp bioassay and anthelminthic activity was evaluated in vitro in Pheretima posthuma. This study revealedB. diffusa as a source of various phyto-constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiacglycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. Quantitative estimation of total phenol was found to be maximum in BEE i.e.29.73±0.88, BME 19.8±2.02 and in BHE 9.15±0.304 mgGAE/g. Similarly, the total flavonoid content was found to be17.44±0.75 in BEE, 14.43±0.23 in BHE and 3.678 mg QE/g in BME. Ethyl acetate extract showed its antibacterial activityagainst all tested pathogens except Escherichia coli whereas Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhi were resistantto methanol and hexane extract. The zone of inhibition (ZOI) of ethyl acetate extract against S. Typhi and B. cereus wasfound to be 18 mm and 14 mm respectively. The MIC value of BEE in S. Typhi was 3.125µg/ml and in B. cereus was12.5 µg/ml. The preliminary screening of anticancer property of B. diffusa i.e. BSLT in methanol was found to be165.19 µg/ml. B. diffusa was also found to contain anthelmintic property. The study helped in further exploration ofmedicinal properties of B. diffusa by phytochemical screening and biological activities paving the path for study andinvestigation in this plant.Keywords: Boerhavia Diffusa, DPPH, Qualitative Phytochemical Screening, Brine Shrimp Bioassay, AntihelminthicActivity