Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A.Juss. is herbaceous, monecious annual plant used traditionally to cure
gastrointestinal disorders. The present study was carried out to find the bioactive compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, the
acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential acute toxicity, and
emetic activity present in the
ethyl acetate fraction of Chrozophora tinctoria (EAFCT) and
dichloromethane fraction of Chrozophora tinctoria (DCMFCT). The compounds detected in both fractions were mostly
fatty acids, with about seven compounds in EAFCT and 10 in DCMFCT. These included pharmacologically active compounds such as
imipramine, used to treat depression, or
hexadecanoic acid methyl
ester, an
antioxidant, nematicide,
pesticide, hypocholesterolemic, 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic
acid, ethyl
ester, (Z,Z,Z)- is used as a
cancer preventive, antiarthritic, antihistaminic, hepatoprotective, insectifuge, nematicide,
Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl
ester have antifungal, antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities, 10-Octadecanoic
acid, methyl
ester have the property to decrease blood
cholesterol,
Antioxidant and antimicrobial, 1-Eicosanol is used as an antibacterial,
1-Hexadecene has antibacterial,
antioxidant, and antifungal activities. Both DCMFCT and EAFCT fractions inhibited
acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity with IC50 values of 10 µg and 130 µg, respectively. Both the fractions were found to be toxic in a dose-dependent manner, inducing
emesis at 0.5g onward and
lethargy and mortality from 3-5 g upwards. Both the fractions combined with distilled water showed highly
emetic activity. The significant increase in the number of vomits was shown by EAFCT plus distilled water which are 7.50±1.29, 7.25±3.10, and 11.75±2.22 number of vomits at 1g, 2g, and 3g/kg concentration respectively, while DCMFCT plus distilled water showed 5.25±2.22, 7.50±2.52 and 10.25±2.22 number of vomits at 1g, 2, and 3g/kg correspondingly. The
antiemetic standard
drug metoclopramide has a higher impact against the
emesis induced by both the fractions than
dimenhydrinate.
Metoclopramide decreases the number of vomits caused by EAFCT to 1.00±0.00, 2.00±0.00, 4.00±1.00 at 1g, 2, and 3g/kg sequentially, while
dimenhydrinate decreases the number of vomits to 1.33±0.58, 2.33±1.15, 4.33±0.58 at 1g, 2, and 3g respectively. In the same way, Metochloprimide decreases the number of
emesis caused by DcmCt from 5.25±2.22, 7.50±2.52, 10.25±2.22 to 1.33±0.58, 2.33±1.1, 4.33±0.58 at 1g, 2, and 3g/kg concentrations. The present study is the first documented report that scientifically validates the folkloric use of Chrozophora tinctoria as an
emetic agent.