EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANALGESIC AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF THE AERIAL PART OF CASSIA SOPHERA L. (CAESALPINIACEAE)

Cassia sophera L. is used in tropical countries of Asia by local healers traditionally for the management of wide range of ailments including diarrhea, skin diseases, jaundice and diabetes. Considering the widespread use in traditional medicine the present study was undertaken to explore the possible antioxidant, analgesic and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extract of C. sophera L. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total tannin content (TTC) were determined using Folin Chiocalteu’s reagent while the total flavonoid content (TFC) was measured by colorimetric method. The antioxidant activity of the crude methanolic extract was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing power assays. The acetic acid induced writhing inhibition method was employed to screen the analgesic activity. The general toxicity was assessed by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were found to be 135 mg GAE/g and 144 mg QE/g of dried plant extract, respectively. Total tannin content (TTC) was obtained 10.2 mg GAE/g of the dried extract. The extract showed DPPH radical scavenging activity at IC50 value of 33.49 μg/mL. The reducing power was found comparable to standard ascorbic acid. In acetic acid-induced writhing inhibition test the extract exhibited significant inhibition of writhing property (34.3% and 64.3% at the doses of 250 & 500 mg/kg, respectively). The extract showed cytotoxicity against brine shrimp lethality bioassay (LD50=23.682 μg/mL). The extract exhibited preliminary evidences for having its antioxidant, analgesic and cytotoxic activities; however further investigation is suggested to isolate active compound(s) responsible for these pharmacological activities.