Pharmacognostical and biological evaluation of Mayurshikha (Actiniopteries dichotoma Bedd): An Ayurvedic medicinal plant

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate pharmacognostical parameters and biological activities for Mayurshikha. Methods: The freshly collected plant material was subjected to pharmacognostical study followed by extraction and fractionation. Extract and fractions subjected for phytochemical investigation.The hydro-alcoholic extract and their four fractions were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic and brine shrimp lethality assay. The extract was subjected for fluorescence analysis. Total phenol content was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. Results: The pharmacognostic study revealed the macroscopic characters, physicochemical constants and phytochemical nature of Mayurshikha. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of lipids, phenols, terpenoids, sterols, alkaloids and flavonoids.Total phenol content was found to be 6.36 µg/mg of Gallic acid equivalents GAE/g. In vitro biological activities were performed to assess the biological efficacy. Fraction 4 showed promising antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ of 1.49µg/ml. Amongst four fractions, F3 and F4 showed pronounced antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration of 100µg /ml. Fraction 3 showed better anthelmintic activity as death time for same fraction was 4.78(±0.93) minutes. Further, with the LC₅₀ value of 1.49µg/ml, Fraction 3 was found to exhibit better cytotoxicity amongst all fractions. Conclusion: From the above finding it clearly indicates that Mayurshikha consists of active phytoconstituents which can be utilized for therapeutic purpose.