Phytochemical and Pharmacological Screening of Xanthium Indicum

Ethanolic extract of Xanthium indicum plant was prepared and tested for its phytochemical and pharmacological investigation. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that extracts possessed the active principles-alkaloid, carbohydrate, glycoside, flavonoid & Tannin. The extract showed antioxidant property(IC50 ==136.45 µg/mL) compare to standard (ascorbic acid, IC50 =12.16 µg/mL). The extract also shows antioxidant activity by reducing FeCl3. The extract inhibited the acetic acid induced writhing in mice (47.5% P<0.001and 24.54% P<0.05at the dose of 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight respectively) and it is comparable to the activity of the standard analgesic drug diclofenac sodium (67.95% P<0.0001 at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight). The results tend to suggest that the plant possess analgesic and antioxidant activities or active constituent(s) responsible for the mentioned activities. This book will act as aguide for the further isolation of the compounds and will endow proper health care benefits.