Verbenaceae

The plant Gmelina arborea has been traditionally used in India for several medicinal purposes like anthelmintic, diuretic, antibacterial, antipyretic, antioxidant and antidiabetic. The aim of the present study is to explore the antipyretic activity of G. arborea fruit extracts using ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and petroleum ether as solvents. The antipyretic activity was evaluated by inducing fever in experimental animals by injection of Brewer’s yeast at single dose of 300 mg/Kg, b.w. All data are verified for statistically significant by using one way ANOVA at 1 % level of significance (p < 0.01). All extracts showed antipyretic activity at 300 mg/Kg b.w., and the activity is well comparable with the standard drug, Aspirin. Petroleum ether is more effective as compared to other solvent extracts. It could be concluded that G. arborea fruits possess antipyretic activity.

To pre-screen the ex- vivo wound healing activity of  ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Tectona grandis Linn. Family Verbenaceae along with phytochemical, EDS, HPTLC analysis to provide pharmacological validation to the traditional claim for this activity of Tectona grandis leaves. Total phenolic content by UV spectral methods and apigenin  by HPTLC, trace elements by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer were determined. The wound healing effect was evaluated using ex- vivo porcine skin wound healing model Total phenolic content, HPTLC determination of apigenin content of TGEAE was found to be 22.2µg/g , 0.7% respectively. EDS study showed calcium (2.19%), potassium (9.24%), magnesium (0.62%), and sulphur(0.48%), phosphorous (0.97%). Histopathological evaluation showed all treated wounds were sound with no signs of apoptosis, necrosis or bacterial contamination and no toxicity of the tested concentrations. Morphology of the wound margins, epidermis and dermis layer were found to be normal. TGEAE (3%) promoted statistically significant wound healing effect. This study indicates that the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of T.grandis possesses wound healing activity on ex-vivo porcine skin wound healing model. The activity may be due to its phenolic content, apigenin (flavonoids) and betulinic acid. Trace elements supports wound healing as they required for cellular growth and replication. This present investigation provides scientific evidence to ethno medical use of T.grandis leaves in wound healing. Therefore it can be safely used as auxiliary therapy in diabetic foot ulcers as the leaves possesses scientifically validated traditional use in diabetes.

The present study reports the phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Tectona grandis. Nine phytoconstituents have been reported namely Eicosanyl Eicosanoate, β-Sitosterol, Ursolic acid, Lupeol, Betulinic acid, Betulin, Betulinaldehyde, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and Tectol. Eicosanyl eicosanoate and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate have been reported for the first time from stem bark of T. grandis.