Pharmacological activities of aqueous flower extract of Ixora coccinea L.

Abstract

Nature has blessed the universe with plenty of medicinal plants, so often referred as the Medicinal Garden of the world. In Indian Vedas, the medicinal plants including every part of the plant from roots to flowers were used for curing several diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to enrich the dietary system with antioxidant molecules to protect the human system against various diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antidiabetic activities of aqueous flowers extract of Ixora coccinea belongs to the family Rubiaceae. Antioxidant activities such as DPPH^· radical, superoxide (O₂^.-) radical scavenging activities, phosphomolybdenum reduction and Fe³⁺ reducing power activities were carried out. The IC₅₀ of DPPH^· radical and superoxide (O₂^.-) radical were 13.58 and 23.51 µg/mL concentrations. The RC₅₀ of phosphomolybednum reduction and Fe³⁺ reduction were 20.57 and 14.57 µg/mL concentrations. The IC₅₀ of haemolytic inhibition was 99.72 µg/mL concentration. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were 369.1 µg/mg Gallic acid equivalents and 55.14 µg/mg Quercetin equivalents. The IC₅₀ of alpha amylase enzyme inhibition was 655.02 µg/mL concentration. The antibacterial activity showed maximum zone of inhibition of 15mm for B. subtilis at 500 µg/mL concentration.

Keywords: Antioxidant, DPPH^· radical, Superoxide (O₂^.-) radical, alpha-amylase, haemolysis.