Jennifer Margaret, J (2014) Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Hepatoprotective Activity on the Berries of Vitex Agnus-Castus. Masters thesis, College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai.
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Abstract
Aim: The present study is to standardize the berries of Vitex agnus-castus by carrying out the pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical parameters. To evaluate the antioxidant activity of the various extracts of the berries of Vitex agnus-castus. To evaluate the in vitro Hepatoprotective activity of the various extracts of the berries of Vitex agnus-castus by MTT assay using normal Chang liver cell line Evaluation of in vivo Hepatoprotective activity of the berries of Vitex agnus-castus by using Paracetamol induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats. PHARMACOGNOSICAL STUDIES: Collection of plant material Authentication, Macroscopical studies, Microscopical studies, Powder microscopy, Physicochemical constants Ash values, Extractive values, Loss on drying, Foaming index, Swelling index, Inorganic and Heavy Metal Analysis. CONCLUSION: Vitex agnus-castus (Verbanaceae), generally called as the “women’s herb” has a long term tradition of being used as a complementary medicine in Europe and also has a folklore claim for treating enlarged liver. It is also reported to possess antioxidant activity which are known to enhance hepatoprotective activity. In the present study hepatoprotective activity on the berries of Vitex agnus-castus is reported. The pharmacognostical studies revealed various distinguishing characters present in the plant. The morphological studies showed that berries are greenish black, round to ovoid in shape with hairy surface and has a aromatic odour and bitter taste. The microscopical sections of the berries showed the presence of polygonal cells with thickened cell walls, simple pits, covering and glandular trichomes in the epidermis of the epicarp. The mesocarp consists of isodiametric parenchyma cells and endocarp showed the presence of brachysclerides. The powder microscopy revealed the presence of starch grains, unicellular covering trichomes, xylem vessels, cortical parenchyma cells, brachysclerides and collenchymas cells. Standardisation of the drug was done by performing various physicochemical constants such as ash value, extractive values, loss on drying, foaming index and swelling index. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of the powdered drug was done which showed the presence of aluminium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sulphate and potassium which were within the Pharmacopoeial limits. Extraction was carried out with solvents of increasing polarity for the berries of Vitex agnus-castus and the percentage yield of ethyl acetate extract was found to be more compared to the other extracts. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed. The hexane extract showed the presence of phytosterols and triterpenoids. The ethyl acetate extract revealed maximum number of active constituents such as carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins and triterpenoids. The ethanol extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and triterpenoids. Quantification of flavonoids and phenols were carried out. The concentration of flavonoid present in ethyl acetate and ethanol extract was found to be 92.66μg equivalent to Quercetin in 1mg(9.3%) and 8μg equivalent to Quercetin in 1mg(8%). The concentration of phenol present in ethyl acetate and ethanol extract was found to be 9μg equivalent to Gallic acid in 1mg(0.9%) and 6.12μg equivalent to Gallic acid in 1mg(0.61%). The fluorescence analysis of powder and the various extracts were carried out and no fluorescence was observed. The chromatography was performed, in which the ethyl acetate and ethanol extract each showed two spots for flavonoid mobile phase with Rf value 0.36, 0.61, 0.32 and 0.54. For alkaloid mobile phase also two spots each observed for both the extracts with Rf value 0.45, 0.63, 0.42 and 0.60. The HPTLC chromatogram of the ethyl acetate showed the presence of 11 peaks with their corresponding areas. The antioxidant activity was carried out by H2O2 scavenging method and reducing power ability assay. The IC50 value of the ethyl acetate extract in both the methods was found to be almost equivalent to that of the standard drug Ascorbic acid and showed the most potent antioxidant activity compared to the other two extracts. Toxicity studies on normal Chang liver cell line showed that all the extracts were nontoxic. The in vitro hepatoprotective studies using paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity on Chang liver cell line showed that the ethyl acetate extract offered maximum protection against hepatotoxicity caused by paracetamol. The cell viability of the ethyl acetate and paracetamol treated group was 72.9% as against the cell viability of paracetamol treated group which was only 39.92%. The in vivo studies were performed using two doses (200 and 400mg/kg) of the ethyl acetate extract. Both the doses tested showed significant hepatoprotective activity indicating that the plant possesses hepatoprotective activity. This study substantiates our hypothesis that Vitex agnus-castus may be a useful hepatoprotective plant. Further studies on isolation of the phytoconstituents responsible for the activity are suggested.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Pharmacognostical; Phytochemical; Hepatoprotective Activity; Vitex Agnus-Castus |
| Subjects: | PHARMACY > Pharmacognosy |
| Depositing User: | Ravindran C |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Oct 2017 07:06 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Oct 2017 07:06 |
| URI: | http://repository-tnmgrmu.ac.in/id/eprint/3722 |
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