Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous activities of ethanol and hexane extracts of Urochloa ramosa (L.) T.Q. Nguyen

Abstract

Urochloa ramosa (L.) T.Q. Nguyen is known for its environmental benefits such as stabilization and reclamation of polluted soils, in agriculture to con-trol root-knot nematodes infecting crops, in medicine to treat cardiovascu-lar diseases, duodenal ulcer, hyperglycemia, nephritis and snake bites. Qualitative analyses of phytochemicals in ethanol and hexane extracts were performed by standard methods. In vitro anti-microbial assay was per-formed against gram positive bacteria viz., Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococ-cus aureus, Gram negative bacteria viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Esch-erichia coli and fungus Candida albicans by disc diffusion method. Hexane extract of Urochloa ramosa was found to be 70% effective against Candida albicans indicating potent antifungal property. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was performed by albumin denaturation assay, proteinase inhibi-tion activity assay and membrane stabilization assay using various concen-trations of extracts with Aspirin and Diclofenac sodium as standard. Heat induced protein denaturation was considerably prevented by ethanol and hexane extract at concentrations between 200-500 μg/ml resulting in 60 and 62% inhibition respectively. Heat induced haemolysis of erythrocyte was remarkably inhibited (59 and 68 % respectively) at concentration of 500 μg/ ml. 62 and 65 % Hypotonicity induced haemolysis was also inhibited be-tween concentration of 300-500 μg/ml in both extracts respectively. Inhibi-tion of formation of new blood vessels by Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay proved anti-angiogenic effects of extracts. Purification, characteriza-tion and structural elucidation of bioactive molecules present in ethanol and hexane extracts are needed to be explored further for assessment of better biological activites than crude extract.