PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE ARTOCARPUS HIRSUTUS LAM. LEAVES

Artocarpus hirsutus Lam. is a common plant with a variety of folk medicinal value. The present study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the ethanolic extract of Artocarpus hirsutus. The screening for various phytochemicals was conducted by using various standard procedures. Acute toxicity of the extract was determined by using OECD guidelines 423. The antidiabetic activity of the plant was evaluated by using the streptozotocin-induced diabetic model in Wistar albino rats. The histopathology of the pancreatic tissue was also performed. The antioxidant activity of the extract was also performed by using the liver homogenate of the animal. Statistical analysis was performed by using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s test. The phytochemical screening of extract leads to the detection of various secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, etc. No mortality was observed during acute toxicity studies up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg. The effect of the extract on parameters like body weight, fasting blood glucose level, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, total protein, urea, creatinine shows a significant variation. The histopathological examination of the pancreatic tissue shows marked regeneration of tissue. The enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant parameters were determined and compared. These findings indicate that the ethanolic extract of A. hirsutus leaves have various phytopharmacological activities needed for pharmacological activity and thus it would be useful to isolate and characterize the compounds responsible for these bioactivities in the future.