Integrated Phytopharmacological Studies of Wendlandia glabrata DC

Abstract

Wendlandia glabrata DC. (Family: Rubiaceae), locally known as “Bon Kafashi” in Bangladesh, is widely used as functional food in Indian subcontinent, where its tender shoots are believed to control blood sugar and reduce obesity. However, this plant has not been substantially studied in Bangladesh, and therefore it was selected for phyto-pharmacological investigations. The plant’s methanolic extract, along with its Kupchan fractions, were assessed for in-vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, thrombolytic and membrane stabilizing and in vivo analgesic, antidiarrheal and hypoglycemic properties. Four compounds, namely ursolic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2) stigmasterol (3) and lauric acid (4) were isolated and characterized from the n-hexane fractions by employing gel permeation chromatography and preparative TLC and NMR spectroscopy. All these compounds are first time reported from this species. The total phenolic content of the extract and its fractions was found in a range of 23.98±0.65 to 80.74±2.08 mg of GAE/gm of extractives. In DPPH assay, DCM fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant efficacy with an IC₅₀ value of 14.29 µg/ml, in comparison to standard BHT (IC₅₀=13.56 µg/ml). The DCM solubles also showed the strongest cytotoxic activity (LC₅₀ = 0.77 μg/mL) which was comparable to standard vincristine sulphate (LC₅₀ = 0.58 μg/mL). Different solvent fractions exhibited thrombolytic activity ranging from 24.84% to 38.32%. Out of all, the methanolic extract showed considerable membrane stabilizing properties in hemolysis mediated by hypotonic solution and heat. The methanol extract showed weak analgesic activity as evident by acetic acid-induced writhing test. In castor oil-mediated diarrhea, the extract did not show potential antidiarrheal efficacy. The extract exhibited significant effect in the hypoglycemic test at 400 mg/kg, which decrease blood glucose levels by 24.82% (p < 0.01) and 27.35% (p < 0.05) during the 2^nd and 3^rd hour of study, respectively. Based on the findings, W. glabrata may be a viable source of potentially active secondary metabolites. Additional research should be undertaken for utilizing this plant in drug discovery and development.

Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 29(2): 298-309, 2026 (July)