PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION, PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIDIABETIC AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF HODGSONIA HETEROCLITA (ROXB.) HOOK.F. AND THOMSON
Background: Hodgsonia heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook.f. & Thomson is a medicinal species warranting comprehensive investigation for quality standards, chemical composition, and biological efficacy. This research sought to integrate foundational quality control with preliminary phytochemical identification and to evaluate the extract's antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and safety profiles. Methods: The powdered plant material underwent analysis for pharmacognostic features and physicochemical constants such as extractive value, moisture content, ash value, and yield from extraction. Extracts were prepared with water, ethanol, and petroleum ether and subjected to qualitative screening for major phytoconstituent classes. Antioxidant capacity was determined using the DPPH radical-scavenging method, employing BHT as a reference standard. Acute oral toxicity of the ethanolic extract was evaluated in albino rats as per OECD guideline 423. Efficacy studies involved administering 200 mg/kg of the ethanolic extract in oral glucose tolerance and alloxan-induced diabetic models, monitoring blood glucose, body weight, lipid parameters, and examining pancreatic tissues. Hepatoprotective potential was assessed in rats with CCl₄-induced hepatic injury by measuring serum SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and total bilirubin, alongside histological analysis. TLC was utilized for chromatographic profiling of column fractions to detect principal chemical classes. Results: The crude powder appeared coarse and brown. Extractive values were highest in water (20%), followed by ethanol (14%) and petroleum ether (4%), with extraction yields of 12.3%, 8.4%, and 6.8%, respectively. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation indicated the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, and glycosides in water and ethanol extracts, and tannins in the aqueous extract. The ethanolic extract displayed the most potent DPPH scavenging ability, with an IC₅₀ of 238 µg/mL, outperforming the aqueous (417 µg/mL) and petroleum ether (897 µg/mL) extracts. No acute toxicity or mortality was observed in rats at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Administration of the ethanolic extract led to a substantial decrease in blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, from 270.3 mg/dL to 124.5 mg/dL over 15 days, along with improvement in serum lipid profiles. For CCl₄-induced liver injury, the extract reduced SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and total bilirubin levels, and lessened hepatic tissue damage. TLC analysis provided early indications of sterols and anthraquinones. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Hodgsonia heteroclita demonstrated significant antioxidant, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective activities, supported by preliminary phytochemical and chromatographic data. Acute oral toxicity findings suggest safety at the tested dosage. Further studies involving advanced chromatographic techniques (HPLC/LC MS), comprehensive dose-response analysis, independent replication, and mechanistic exploration are necessary to validate the therapeutic potential of this plant.