PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF ANTI EMETIC ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANATUM LEAVES

Jainendra Kumar Battineni*, Narender Boggula, Vasudha Bakshi

ABSTRACT

The pomegranate, Punica granatum belongs to family Lythraceae is an ancient, mystical, unique fruit borne on a small long-living tree cultivated throughout the mediterranean region, as far north as the Himalayas, in Southeast Asia, and in California and Arizona in the United States. Punica granatum is a fruit bearing deciduous herb or small tree growing between 5-8m tall. Punica granatum leaves are used as bitter tonic in fever and used in pneumonia, flu, mouth and lip infections. In recent studies plant has shown anti fungal, immunosuppressant and anti diabetic activity. It is also used in treatment of heart problems, stomach disorders, dental care, cancer, anaemia, osteoarthritis. Punica including Punica protopunica are known to exhibit strong anti oxidant activity. The presence of phytoconstituents like alkaloids and terpenoids in the extract might be responsible for the anti emetic activity. However, the anti emetic property of ethanol extract of Punica granatum leaves have not been carried out till today. Hence, in present investigation, the extract of Punica granatum dried leaves was screened for preliminary phytochemical composition and anti emetic activity by using standard procedures. The results illustrated that the extract of the leaves have anti emetic potential comparable with that of metoclorpramide (reference drug).

Keywords: Punica granatum, anti emetic, metaclopramide, flavonoids.