ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF BARLERIA GRANDIFLORA LEAF EXTRACTS WITH EXPLORATION OF PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Objective: The Barleria grandiflora Dalz (Acanthaceae), known as Shwet keshariya and Dev Koranti, is widely used in Indian traditional medicine. The study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of B. grandiflora leaf extracts along with pharmacognostic and phytochemical analysis. Methods: The present study included macroscopical, microscopical, phytochemical, and physicochemical analysis to standardize the plant materials. Fresh leaves were taken for morphological and microscopical studies. Total ash value, water-soluble ash, and acid-insoluble ash were determined. Loss on drying and a study of foreign organic matter were carried out. Phytochemical analysis was performed using chemical reactions, UV-visible spectrophotometers, and HPLC methods. Phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents were quantified using gallic acid and rutin equivalence methods. In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of leaf extracts (aqueous: BGAE, ethanolic: BGEE, and petroleum ether: BGPE) was assessed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) assay, respectively. Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis demonstrated that BGAE and BGEE contain phenolic and flavonoids as the major phytoconstituents. The BGEE showed significant (P<0.05) higher contents of phenolic and flavonoids than BGAE and BGPE. Results showed that B. grandiflora leaf extracts showed considerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. IC50 values of BGAE, BGEE, and BGPE for the DPPH assay were found to be 221.6±7.92, 181.1±5.37, and 322.4±10.79 µg/ml, respectively, and IC50 values of BGAE, BGEE, and BGPE for the BSA assay were found to be 145.7±4.12, 74.03±7.15, and 194.6±3.51 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that BGEE had better antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity as compared to BGAE and BGPE. These effects might be due to the presence of higher phenolic and flavonoid contents. The current study showed a significant impact of data that helped determine the plant's identity, purity, and effectiveness, giving society access to effective and affordable medicine for use in the future.