Phytochemical and pharmacological screenings of organic crude fractions of Maesa acuminata

The present study is aimed to investigate phytochemical and pharmacological activities of crude organic fractional extracts of Maesa acuminata (MA). Preliminary test for phytoconstituents shows the presence of alkaloid, glycoside, steroids, tannins, saponins and reducing sugars. Fractionation was done by ethanol (leaf: ELMA), chloroform (bark: CBMA) and n-hexane (leaf: HLMA). The crude fractions were then subjected for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing, antimicrobial and analgesic activities. In the antioxidant test performed by 1,1-dipheny-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the CBMA and HLMA significantly scavenged DPPH radicals, where HLMA at 100 μg/ml inhibited DPPH by 57.01% and the standard, ascorbic acid (AA) by 95.47%, respectively. In the disc diffusion antimicrobial sensitivity test, all the crude fractions of MA produce zones of inhibition between 8 to 18 mm. ELMA showed prominent antimicrobial activity than the CBMA and HLMA, where it strongly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus with the inhibition zones by 18 mm at 500 μg/disc. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) detected with the CBMA, ELMA and HLMA were between 61.25 and 250 μg/ml for the test microorganisms. In the anti-diarrheal activity the HLMA and CBMA in oral dose (p.o.) showed 62.79 and 61.62% of percent inhibition of defection as compared to standard, loperamide (93.00%). Additionally, the fractional extracts of MA also possess anti-inflammatory, membrane stabilization and analgesic activities. In conclusion, M. acuminata may be a good source of therapeutic components. Key words: Antioxidant, antimicrobial, Maesa acuminata.