Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on medicinally important plant Opuntia dillenii collected from Pakistan

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Research Paper 01/08/2021
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Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on medicinally important plant Opuntia dillenii collected from Pakistan

Mushtaq Ahmad, Amin ur Rahman, Humaira Inayat, Farah Gul, Yaqoob ur Rehman, Muhammad Qaisar, Jehangir Shah, Noor Rehman, Saadullah Mir, Muhammad Tariq, Muhammad Saddique Arbab, Hamid Ali
Int. J. Biosci. 19(2), 82-89, August 2021.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2021; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Keeping in view the numerous useful pharmacological activities of Opuntia plants, we explored in detail the secondary metabolites and metals in different parts, fatty acids composition of seed oil and a detailed anti-inflammatory study of the cladodes along with acute toxicity studies of Opuntia dillenii collected from Pakistan. Carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols were present in both the cladodes and fruit part. Terpenes and sterols were found in the cladode part while alkaloids were only present in the fruit part. Highest quantity of sodium was found in the same quantity (394.00 ppm) cladodes and fruit while potassium was abundantly present in the fruit part (15430.00 ppm). Calcium was present in a very high quantity in the cladodes (11820.00 ppm) and fruit (16419.40 ppm). Linoleic acid, a potent cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, was with highest concentration (59.153 %) among fatty acids. The crude extract displayed significant anti-inflammatory activity (50.88 %) at 300 mg/kg body weight dose after 3h dose injection. Acute toxicity tests confirmed the safety of crude extract to a dose level of up to 1000 mg/kg body weight. The present study provides a base to the natural product chemists to carry out further studies on the isolation of the secondary metabolites from Opuntia dillenii and explore the bio-efficacies of the individual compounds.

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