Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation of Extracts of Merremia tridentata Linn. (Convolvulaceae)

Abstract

Merremia tridentata (Linn.) is a widely acclaimed Ayurvedic medicinal plant with wide ranging biological activities. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, hemiplegia, piles swelling and urinary disorders. A literature survey revealed that the anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of M. tridentata has not been evaluated so far. Hence objective of the present work was to evaluate these activities of the root extracts of the plant. The shadedried roots of M. tridentata were defatted with petroleum ether and subjected to continuous hot extraction with ethyl alcohol. The resulting concentrated alcoholic extract was subjected to fractionation using petroleum ether (60- 80°), solvent ether, ethyl acetate, butanone and butanol in succession. Preliminary phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids. All the fractions were subjected to screening for anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. The wound healing activity was ascertained by resutured incision, excision, dead space wound (grass pith granuloma) model. The ethyl acetate, butanone and butanol extracts showed better wound healing activity followed by solvent ether and petroleum ether extracts. Hence from the results of phytochemical and pharmacological investigation it can be concluded that, among the various extracts of roots of M. tridentata; ethyl acetate, butanol, butanone, solvent ether extracts shows more significant anti-inflammatory and wound healing promotion activities compared to petroleum ether and solvent ether extracts. The above properties of roots of M. tridentata can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids.