Abstract

The present study determined phytochemical content, antioxidant and antidiarrhoeal effect of methanol extract of Fimbristylis miliacea. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Total phenolic, flavonoids, flavonols, tannins, β-carotene, lycopene, chlorophyll-α, and chlorophyll-β contents were found 154.13 mg GAE/g, 83.14 mg QE/g, 126.45 mg QE/g, 215.72 mg GAE/g, 1.51 µg/g, 0.66 µg/g, 7.10 mg/g and 4.25 mg/g, respectively. Antioxidant potential was compared against ascorbic acid. IC50 and EC50 values were determined as indices of antioxidant potential using five experiments; IC50 in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay were 138.83 and 353.82 µg/ml respectively. EC50 of thiobarbituric acid assay, FRAP assay and reducing power assay were observed 2159.5, 31.59 and 129.56 µg/ml respectively. Total antioxidant capacity was 155.35 mg/g AAE. Significant reduction (p≤0.001) in fecal movement was produced by plant extract and the effect was stronger than that of the standard drug loperamide (5 mg/kg.bw). Loperamide showed 58.16% inhibition whereas extract at 400 mg/kg.bw dose inhibited 80.85% diarrhea.

Key words: Fimbristylis miliacea, phytochemical content, antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal

Abbreviation

DPPH, diphenyl picrylhydrazyl assay; HRSA, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay; RPA, reducing power assay; TBA, thiobarbituric acid assay; FRAP, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay; IC, inhibition concentration; EC, effective concentration; bw, body weight; min, minute; h, hour; g, gram.