Prostaglandin Synthesis Inhibitory Activity of Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) and HPLC-DAD Analysis.

Dysmenorrhea a painful gynecological problem reported by women in their reproductive years, is a common condition and is refers to painful menstruation with severe cramping affecting the lower part of the abdomen caused by excessive prostaglandin production within secretory endometrial cell. Already existing drugs have numerous limitations. The objective of the study is to evaluate the cyclooxygenase inhibitory and radical scavenging potential of Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) in the management of dysmenorrhea. The entire dried Heliotropium indicum plant was extracted by successive extraction procedure. Cyclooxygenase assay was carried out using COX-2 Test kit and ABTS assay was also carried out using ABTS Radical cation decoloration assay. HPLC-DAD was used to detect polyphenolic molecules. In cyclooxygenase assay, methanol extract showed highest anti-inflammatory activity with the lowest IC₅₀ of 0.553±0.05 mg/mL when compared with Ibuprofen (IC₅₀ of 0.065±0.00 mg/mL) at 1-0.03125 mg/mL, nhexane and ethyl acetate have IC₅₀ of 0.782±0.01mg/mL and 0.608±0.01mg/mL, respectively. Heliotriopium indicum extract also showed an antioxidative activity when tested with ABTS radical cation decoloration with ethyl acetate having the highest activity (IC₅₀ of 0.315±0.00 mg/mL) when compared with Trolox (IC₅₀ of 0.034±0.00 mg/mL) at 1-0.03125 mg/mL. Tannic acid, naringenin, garlic acid, quercetin, maleic acid and saponin were identified from HPLC-DAD analysis at various concentration. Heliotriopium indicum has the potential to prevent the production of excessive prostaglandin by its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2. Therefore, could be a source of new COX-2 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]