Drug Discovery and Drug Design

Biography

Biography: Arjim G. Luna

Abstract

Substances from plants have recently become of great interest of owing to their versatile applications. As for the continuous use of herbal remedy, the researchers want to open the minds of people that they can use herbal medicines as an alternative for synthetic medicines. One of the medicinal plants that can be found in this country is the Kauayan - tinik (Bambusa spinosa Roxb.) or the spiny bamboo. Though abundantly found and easily grown botanical, there is no known attempt yet use the study of the analgesic property of the plant. The method of research was employed is experimental. The laboratory experimentation that consists the major portion of the investigation was the following: (1) Collection and extraction of plant sample; (2) Phytochemical screening; (3) Physical evaluation; (4) Instrumental analysis using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); and (5) Biological test of analgesic property of ethanolic extract. The Phytochemical screening conducted an eighty percent ethanolic extractives of the Kauayan-tinik leaves gave a positive result for flavonoids, phytosterol, saponins, and proteins. The leaves of Kauayan – tinik extract and extractives gave the negative result for alkaloids, tannin, reducing sugar, and starch. The FTIR scan of the sample was obtained using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory. Final spectrum was processed using ATR correction. The spectrum yielded the following functional groups: O-H, C-H-O, C-O-O-H, C=O, C=C, N-H, -NO2, C-O-C, S-O and R-X. The analgesic potential of Kauayan – tinik leaves ethanolic extractives was investigated using acetic acid-induced pain test. Isolated extractives were prepared into two different concentrations, the 300 mg/kg and the 600 mg/kg. The 300 mg/kg concentration was found to exhibit 22.22% protection. The 600 mg/kg concentration was found to exert 33.33% protection. Based on the results of the physical and instrumental methods of analysis, the ethanolic extracts and extractives possessed the characteristics features of dark green colored paste and possessed a distinct odor. Base on the results of the acetic acid-induced pain test, the extractives of the leaves of Kauayan - tinik possess analgesic activity.