Chemical composition and physiological effects of sterculia colorata components

Abstract

Sterculia colorata, known as ‘Odal’ in Bangladesh, can be found in Southern Yunnan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South West India eastwards to Burma and Bangladesh. It is commonly found in jungles in hill tracts as it can endure long period of dryness. This species of Malvaceae family is well known to the people living in hill tracts as the traditional medicine for the treatment of cholera and jaundice. The major influence behind this study comes from the vast use of S. colorata as traditional medicines. However, another prime reason behind the selection of this plant for study is that, it has not yet undergone any type of studies based on phytochemical and medicinal properties. In this study, to check for antioxidant activity in the leaf and bark extracts, DPPH free radical scavenging test, Total phenolic content and Total flavonoid content estimation have been performed in-vitro. Furthermore, phytochemical screening has also been conducted to identify some particular phytochemicals present in the leaf and bark extract. However, the effective use of S. colorata against cholera among tribal people has acted as a powerful stimuli to conduct the Antidiarrheal activity test for this study. The antidiarrheal activity test has been performed in-vivo; with rats in the laboratory. From this study, strong free radical scavenging activity of the bark extract, high flavonoid content in the leaf extract and highly significant antidiarrheal activity of the leaf extract in lower dose have been observed, which can be an effective substitute in the absence of other anti-diarrheal drugs.