Pharmacological and Antioxidant Activities of Leaves of Ethanol Extract of Diospyros blancoi

The Ethanol extract of leaves of Diospyros blancoi (Ebenaceae) was tested for its pharmacological and antioxidant activities. Acetic acid induced writhing method, Brine shrimp lethality bioassay and disc diffusion method were applied for determining analgesic, cytotoxic and antibacterial activity, respectively. To investigate antioxidant activity, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) free radical scavenging, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were applied. The extract produced dose-dependent analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced writhing test. Significant antibacterial and cytotoxic activity were also observed. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, the extract showed the IC₅₀ value of 59 µg/mL (Ascorbic acid, 17 µg/mL). Total phenolic and flavonoids contents were 62.54 mg GAE and 9.63 mg QE/g of dry powder, respectively. In HPLC analysis, Catechin hydrate, Rutin hydrate, Vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, and Quercetin were detected in the extract (39.51, 20.67, 1.68, 1.52, 1.08 mg/100 g of dry extract, respectively). Presence of polyphenolic compounds in the extract might have attributed towards the observed bio-activity.