Abstract:
The aims of the present investigation were to assess the antibacterial, antifungal, enzyme inhibition and
hemolytic activities of various fractions of Rhynchosia pseudo-cajan Cambess. The methanolic extract of the plant was
dissolved in the water (distilled) and then partitioned with the n-hexane, chloroform, EtOAc and n-BuOH sequentially.
Antibacterial activity was checked against Escherichia coli, Pasturella multocida, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus
aureus by the disc diffusion method using streptomycin sulphate, a standard antibiotic, as positive control. Chloroform
and ethyl acetate soluble fractions showed good activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus
aureus. These fractions also showed good MIC values. The n-butanol soluble and remaining aqueous fraction also
showed good activity against some strains. Antifungal activity was studied against four fungi i.e. Aspergillus niger,
Aspergillus flavus, Ganoderma lucidum and Alternaria alternata by the disc diffusion method using fluconazole, a
standard antifungal drug, as positive control. Chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed good
activity only against G. lucidum. Enzyme inhibition studies were done against four enzymes i.e. α-glucosidase,
butyrylcholinesterase, acetyl cholinesterase and lipoxygenase. Aqueous fraction possessed very good activity against αglucosidase, even greater than acarbose, a reference standard drug. Its IC50 value was found as 29.81±0.12 µg/ml as
compared to acarbose having IC50 38.62±0.04 µg/ml. Chlroform and ethyl acetate soluble fractions also showed good
activity against α-glucosidase. Ethyl acetate soluble and remaining aqueous fractions showed good activity against
lipoxygenase. All the studied fractions showed very less toxicity i.e. <2.5%.
