UNVEILING THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF Plumeria pudica: A COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION

This study provides a comprehensive pharmacological and pharmacognostic evaluation of Plumeria pudica, focusing on its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which may support its traditional medicinal applications. Antimicrobial activity was assessed through in vitro tests, which demonstrated inhibitory activity against microorganisms such as Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The plant's antioxidant potential was demonstrated in scavenging assays using hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, with notable IC50 values suggesting a strong free radical neutralizing capacity. These findings suggest that P. pudica possesses potent pharmacological properties, meriting further research for potential therapeutic applications in managing infections, inflammation, and oxidative stress-related diseases. The antimicrobial inhibition by the test drug EEPP was 35±0.15, 27±0.13, 28±0.16, and 30±0.16 as compared to standard ciprofloxacin. The hydrogen and nitrogen scavenging activity of the I/C-50 values were 17.5 and 19.3 µg/ml for the ethanolic extract of Plumeria pudica, whereas they were 6.7 and 8.0 µg/ml for ascorbic acid. The percentage of inhibition of paw edema for histamine, serotonin, and formalin-induced edema was 64.44%, 55.29%, and 55%, respectively, which indicates a positive antiinflammatory action of the test drug compared to the standard indomethacin, where the P value is less than 0.05