Study of antioxidant and anti-diarrheal activity of whole plant of Madhumalti {Quisqualis indica Linn.}

Hole plant of Quisqualis indica Linn. (Family Combretaceae) is commonly known as Rangoon creeper (combretum indicum) or madhumalati, traditionally used as anthelmintic The fresh plantwas studied for pharmaconostic evaluations, including examination of morphological and microscopic characters, determination of plantconstants, ash values and extractive values. The morphological studies revealed that the leaf is in dark green color with characteristic odour and slight bitter taste and. The shape of Quisqualis indica leaves is as ellipticalacuminate with entire margin, cordate base, and length varying from 7-12cm. Dorsal side is glabrous and ventral surface is hairy. Powder study revealed the presence of covering trichomes, annular xylem vessell, calcium oxalate crystals and anomocytic stomata. The stomatal index 18.75-19.02, vein islet number is 7-10, vein termination is 3-5, palisade ratio 6-7. The Moisture content, Total ash, acid insoluble ash, water-soluble ash values and sulfated ash were observed to be 8%, 9%, 12.5%, 6.55%and 5.45% w/w respectively. Water-soluble extractive values, Alcohol soluble extractive value and petroleum ether soluble extractive value of the leaves were observed to be 10%, 3% and1% w/w respectively. The phytochemical test revealed the presence of alkaloids, slight amount of glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and protein in both extract. Its flowers are used against diarrhea and eaten as vegetable. The flower extract gave high total polyphenol contents and showed strong antioxidant activity. In the search for new acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors from plant origin, it was demonstrated that methanolic extract of Q. indica flower exhibited this activity The extract inhibited electric eel acetyl cholinesterase in dose dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 0.77 μg/m.