ANALGESIC, ANTIDIARRHOEAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF LIMNOPHILA POLYSTACHYA BENTH (SCROPHULARIACEAE) LEAF EXTRACTS

Phytopharmacology is always a vital way for drug discovery. Antibiotic resistance is rising as a challenging threat day by day. Diarrhea and pain are always common problems. The present study was designed to evaluate the Analgesic, Antidiarrhoeal, and Antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts of leaf of Limnophila polystachya Benth by different methods. The analgesic activity of the samples was studied using the acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice. The Thomas method observed castor oil-induced antidiarrheal activity, and antimicrobial activity was monitored by the disc diffusion method. At a higher dose (500 mg/kg), Limnophila polystachya Benth inhibited 65.79 % and 63.16 % writhing of stem and leaf acetone extracts, respectively, compared to standard drug Diclofenac sodium inhibited 78.07 %writhing. Further study is needed to find possible active ingredients and mechanisms of action as well. At a higher dose (500 mg/kg) of the acetone stem and leaf extracts, significant inhibition of 50.58 and 52.87 % of characteristic diarrhoeal feces was observed, respectively, and at a lower dose (250 mg/kg) of both extracts, inhibition 41.37 and 40.22 %. A moderate zone of inhibition was observed at 250μg/disc and 500μg/disc compared to the zone of inhibition at an average 38mm of ciprofloxacin at 50μg/disc. From the above results, it is clear that Limnophila polystachya Benth showed significant pharmacological potentiality in different study models. So, it will be very much a possible source for an isolating lead compound for curing numerous disorders.