Abstract

The plant Pseudoelephantopus spicatus is used in Bangladesh for its folkloric medicinal properties, particularly in rural and Chittagong Hill tract areas. Methanolic extracts of this plant and its various Kupchan partitionates (MESP, HSP, DCMSP, EtAcSP, and AQSP) were then subject to in vitro and in vivo bioassay investigations to determine their consistency and potency. The preclinical trial outcomes hold significance for advancing valid drug development methodologies. Qualitative phytochemical screening identified tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. The EtAcSP fraction of P. spicatus exhibited the highest phenolic content (102.56 mg of GAE/gm of extract). MESP displayed the most potent free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 76.11 µg/ml on DPPH). Antimicrobial screening of the kupchan fraction revealed notable inhibition of bacterial growth by the DCMSP fraction, producing 6 to 16 mm zones of inhibition. Additionally, EtAcSP showed significant thrombolytic activity (290.16%). In toxicity assessments, DCMSP, HSP, AQSP, MESP, and EASP fractions exhibited brine shrimp lethality at varying concentrations. P. spicatus demonstrated promising results in peripheral and central analgesic, antidiarrheal, antidepressant, and hypoglycemic activities at doses of 400 and 200 mg/kg in Swiss-Albino mice. Moreover, the hexane extract analysis highlighted the herb's fatty acid composition, notably high in bound fatty acids (cis-9-oleic acid - 34.14%) and free fatty acids (Palmitoleic acid - 12.25%). This indicates higher unsaturated fatty acid proportions in bound form (BFAs) than in free form (FFAs). These findings suggest the potential bioactivity of P. spicatus, prompting further research to explore its potential as a folk medicine.

Key words: Pseudoelephantopus spicatus, total phenolic content, free radical scavenging activity, anti -diarrheal activity, thrombolytic activity, fatty acid.