Diljit S Kuttoor

To evaluate the preliminary phytochemical, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of77 Anaphyllum wightii Schott. Bovine Serum Albumin denaturation inhibition assay was used for the evaluation of in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity and DPPH. Free radical scavenging and super oxide scavenging assays were used to assess the antioxidant activity of chloroform and aqueous extracts of the tubers of Anaphyllum wightii Schott. In anti-denaturation study, it was observed that chloroform extract showed greater percentage of inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation ie 49.2% whereas aqueous extract showed 38.4% at the 400µg/ml concentration respectively. In case of antioxidant screening also, chloroform extract showed better antioxidant power compared to aqueous extract dose dependently. Among the two extracts evaluated for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities chloroform extract of Anaphyllum wightii was found to possess significantly good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and this can be attributed to the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

In the present study, ethanolic and aqueous fruit extracts of Thespesia populnea were tested against the head louse pediculus humanus capitis. A filter paper diffusion method was conducted for determining the potential pediculocidal activity. The results revealed that plant extracts possess excellent anti lice activity. Results were well comparable with benzyl benzoate. Key words: Thespesia populnea, Anti lice activity, Filter paper bioassay, Head louse.