Preliminary phytochemical and biological investigations of ethanolic extract of Grewia hirsute Vahl

The study was designed to determine the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial activities and presence of phytochemical constituents of ethanolic extract of Grewia hirsute (EGH) Vahl. Analgesic property was investigated by acetic acid, hot plate, and formalin induced writhing method, anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by xylin generated ear edema and carrageenan-induced edema in rat paw, anti-diarrheal study was conducted by castor oil and testing of gut motility using barium sulfate (BaSO4) and anti-microbial activity was assessed by disc diffusion method. In hot plate method, 250 mg/kg b.w. disclosed higher percentage latency elongation. In acetic acid-induced analgesia, percentage of writhing inhibition for 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w doses of plant extract and standard drug were 55%, 70% and 84% respectively. At later phase, 250, 500 mg/kg b.w doses of extract and standard drug showed 66.01%, 76.3% and 82.608% writhing inhibition individually in analgesia induced by formalin. In xylin-induced ear edema, 500 mg/kg b.w. dose showed noticeable inhibition (59.79%) than 250 mg/kg b.w. (48.18%). In carrageenan method, EGH demonstrated significant (p < 0.001) inhibition activity as 40.67%, 53.11% and 62.03% for 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. dose and standard drug respectively. In castor oil-induced diarrhea, the percentage inhibition of defection for 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. dose were 41.67% and 59.72%, respectively, whereas in gut motility test, 500 mg/kg b.w. dose showed remarkable (30.45%) depletion of BaSO4 transit. The tested plant extract have potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal and antimicrobial properties which may conclude the extract as a potential source of phytomedicine.