Pharmacological Insights into Trichodesma indicum: A Medicinally Valuable Herb

Background: The present study was aimed to investigate the pharmacological properties of a medicinally significant herbal species, Trichodesma indicum. Phytochemical analysis of methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of T.indicum was explored. Methodology: Antibacterial activity of these solvent extracts of T.indicum was determined against the test organisms (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. and Proteus sp.) using well diffusion method. Anti-oxidant activity for three different standard concentrations (100, 200 and 300μg/ml) of T.indicum methanol extract was determined using DPPH, superoxide scavenging activity and nitric oxide scavenging activity assays. Wound healing efficacy of T.indicum methanol extract was investigated using standard in vitro wound scratch assay. Results: Phytochemical analysis explored the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids in higher level for methanol extracts of T.indicum. Antibacterial activity of the methanol extracts of T.indicum exhibited inhibitory zones ranging from 27 to 29mm against all the test bacteria; which was comparatively maximum than other solvent extracts. Hence methanol extract was used for anti-oxidant activity and wound healing studies. Anti-oxidant DPPH assays revealed IC50 value of 292.19µg/ml for T. indicum extract. Superoxide scavenging activity expressed IC50 value of 192.34µg/ml; and nitric oxide scavenging activity showed IC50 value of 224.64µg/ml respectively. The self-wound healing ability of T.indicum extracts showed positive cell migration and cell proliferation after 12 th and 24th hours indicating the wound closure under in vitro conditions. Conclusion & recommendation: The research showed promising results and evidenced pharmacological properties of the selected medicinally significant T.indicum. Further studies like anti-diabetic, antifungal and antiviral properties shall be considered based on the above results.