Documentation of floristic diversity in Ponparakunnu hills, Kozhikode District, Kerala and biological activities of Eclipta prostrata L. and Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl (Asteraceae)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to document the diversity of medicinal plants in the Ponparakunnu hills, Kozhikode district, Kerala and to elucidate the biological activities of Eclipta prostrata and Eupatorium triplinerve. The repeated field survey was conducted and totally 30 species belonging to 18 families were documented. From the documentation study the family Asteraceae was found to be dominant in the study area. The phytochemical analysis in ethyl acetate and ethanolic leaf extracts of Eclipta prostrata and Eupatorium triplinerve revealed the presence of carbohydrate, protein, phenol, tannin, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and alkaloids. The DPPH in vivo antioxidant activity depicted that ethanolic and ethyl acetate leaf extract of Eupatorium triplinerve (32.2±1.27) and Eclipta prostrata (30.2±1.26) able to scavenge the stable DPPH radical. The appreciable antibacterial activity was recorded in ethyl acetate leaf extract of Eupatorium triplinerve with the maximum zone of inhibition (0.6 mm at 10 µL/mL) when compared with the standard Chloramphenicol. Hence biological activity in the selected plants Eclipta prostrata and Eupatorium triplinerve, can be widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for the development of new drugs.