IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC AND ANTI-AMYLASE PROPERTIES OF GARCINIA PEDUNCULATA ROXB. ETHANOLIC EXTRACT
<p><strong>Objective</strong>:<strong> </strong>The present study aims to investigate <em>in vitro</em> anthelmintic and anti-amylase properties of the ethanolic fruit extract of <em>Garcinia pedunculata</em>.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>:<strong> </strong>For the study, mature fruits of <em>G. pedunculata</em> were collected from local markets during April-May. Fleshy pericarps of fruits were chopped into small pieces, dried and extracted by using a Soxhlet apparatus. Ethanol extract of <em>G. pedunculata</em> was used for evaluation of <em>in vitro</em> anthelmintic and anti-amylase activities. <em>In vitro</em> anthelmintic activity was evaluated in animal models, <em>Pheretima posthuma</em>, an earthworm species. <em>In vitro</em> anti-amylase activity was evaluated by using zymographic, achromic point analysis (Starch-Iodine method) and spectrophotometric method [Di Nitro Salicylic acid (DNS)–Maltose method].</p><p><strong>Results</strong>:<strong> </strong>Ethanolic extract of <em>G. pedunculata</em> showed anthelmintic activity at a concentration of 75 mg/ml, paralysis and death timing was reported at 0.62±0.26 min and 1.42±0.07 min, respectively. The reference standard (Albendazole) showed paralysis time: 2.13±0.28 min and death time: 5.12±0.29 min. In the anti-amylase study, a zymographic density analysis of <em>G. pedunculata</em> showed significant variation in band intensity as compared to Starch–Iodine achromic point analysis and DNS–Maltose method. A concentration of 1.5 mg/ml of extract showed inhibition of amylase: 67.65±1.53 % as compared to other concentrations and control sets.</p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:<strong> </strong>It could be concluded that ethanolic extract of <em>G. pedunculata</em>has biological properties which could be utilised in medicine by characterising its bioactive components.<p> </p>