QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS AND ANTI-HISTAMINIC ACTIVITY OF QUISQUALIS INDICA LINN

The objectives of the present study were to determine the total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and anti-cataleptic activity of chloroform and methanolic extract of the roots of Quisqualis indica. The crude extracts were investigated for total phenolic and flavonoid content using the Folin-Coicalteu method and the Aluminum chloride colorimetric method. It was found that the total phenolic content is greater than the flavonoid content in Q. indica roots. The total phenolic content of a methanolic extract is greater than the chloroform extract as 61.83 μg/ml and 25.40μg/ml, respectively. The flavonoid content in methanolic and chloroform extract was found to be 10.22μg/ml and 2.11μg/ml. The anti-cataleptic activity of the Q. indica roots extracts was evaluated by Wood block test. Catalepsy was induced by clonidine 1 mg/kg, subcutaneously and Chlorpheniramine maleate 10 mg/kg i.p as the standard drug. The vehicle-treated group has shown maximum duration of catalepsy (190.33±3.68) at 180 minute after the administration of clonidine. There was significant inhibition of clonidine induced catalepsy in the animal pre-treated with methanol and chloroform extract of Q. indica roots (400 mg/kg, p.o.). This suggests that the inhibition is through an antihistaminic action. Hence, we concluded that the methanol extract has more significant antihistaminic activity than the chloroform extract. The polar constituents in the methanol extract of Q. indica roots may be responsible for the antihistaminic activity and Q. indica may have a role in the treatment of asthma.