Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ANXIOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PERGULARIA DAEMIA

Uttam Kumar Nayak*, Satkar Prasad

RKDF School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bhabha University, Bhopal (M.P.)

ABSTRACT

Pergularia daemia is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments owing to its rich phytochemical composition and diverse pharmacological properties. The present study was undertaken to investigate the phytochemical profile and anxiolytic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Pergularia daemia. The hydroalcoholic extraction yielded 10.5% (w/w) extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, diterpenes, and sterols, while glycosides, saponins, proteins, and tannins were absent. Quantitative estimation revealed total phenolic, flavonoid, and alkaloid contents of 0.67, 0.81, and 0.25 mg/100 mg of extract, respectively. The anxiolytic activity of the extract was evaluated in experimental animals using the staircase test and elevated plus-maze (EPM) model. The extract was administered orally at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg, while diazepam (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was used as the standard drug. In the staircase test, the extract produced a significant and dose-dependent reduction in climbing and rearing behavior compared with the control group, indicating decreased anxiety-related exploratory activity. In the elevated plus-maze test, treatment with the extract significantly increased the number of entries into the open arms and the time spent in the open arms while reducing the number of closed-arm entries. The 300 mg/kg dose produced more pronounced anxiolytic effects than the 200 mg/kg dose and showed activity comparable to diazepam. The observed pharmacological activity may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and other bioactive phytoconstituents, which are known to modulate central nervous system function through antioxidant and GABAergic mechanisms. The findings of the present investigation scientifically support the traditional use of Pergularia daemia in the management of anxiety and suggest that the plant possesses considerable potential for the development of safe and effective herbal anxiolytic formulations. Further studies are warranted to isolate the active constituents, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and evaluate their long-term safety and clinical efficacy.

Keywords: Pergularia daemia; Hydroalcoholic extract; Anxiety; Anxiolytic activity; Elevated plus-maze; Staircase test; Phytochemical screening; Flavonoids; Phenolic compounds; Alkaloids.