Antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic properties of Punica granatum Linn

The present study was designed to investigate antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic potential of hydromethanolic extract of the fruit rind of Punica granatum Linn. A dose dependent scavenging of DPPH radical and NO was observed with significant total antioxidant capacity with the plant extract in 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assays. The extract was also studied for antidiarrhoeal property using castor oil and MgSO₄ -induced diarrhoeal model, and charcoal induced gastrointestinal motility test in mice. At the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, the extract reduced the frequency and severity of diarrhoea in test animals throughout the study period. At the same doses, the extracts significantly (p < 0.001) delayed the intestinal transit of charcoal meal in test animals as compared to the control. The extract also displayed strong cytotoxic potential with LC₅₀ value of 10 μg/ml in brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires