Phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of Viscum monoicum (whole plant)

The ethanol extract of the whole plant, Viscum monoicum (Family- Loranthaceae) was investigated for analgesic, antidiarrheal and antibacterial activities. Phytochemical analysis of the extract indicated the presence of reducing sugar, alkaloids, gum, tannins and saponins. The ethanolic extract of with oral doses showed potential (P<0.05) analgesic activity by tail immersion method in Swiss Albino miceat the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg-body weight as compared to the standard drug pentazocine at the dose 10 mg/kg-body weight which was in dose dependent manner. In antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts performed by disc diffusion method, the extract showed activity against the bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis at the dose of 250 µg/disc and 500µg/disc in comparison with standard drug kanamycin (30 µg/disc). The results exhibited that some phytochemicals of the crude extracts might be responsible for analgesic, antidiar- rhoeal & antibacterial activities.