Pharmacognostical and Pharmacological Evaluation of leaves of Citrullus lanatus L.

Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) is commonly available throughout India and traditionally used in treatment of various ailments. This plant is well-explored for its fruit but the potential of its leaves is still unexplored. Thus, the present study focuses on pharmacognostical and pharmacological evaluation of leaves of Citrullus lanatus. In pharmacognostical evaluation, all macroscopic, microscopic, qualitative, quantitative and microbiological analysis were performed. In pharmacological evaluation, the study mainly focuses on the potential of leaves for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The antioxidant activity has been performed by various methods such as DPPH and phospho-molybdenum method. The antidiabetic activity has been performed by non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin assay method, glucose uptake in yeast cells method, alpha amylase inhibition assay method and alpha glucosidase inhibition assay method. The results of antioxidant activity shows that the plant extract possess good free radical scavenging properties due to the presence of vitamin C, polyphenol and flavonoid content. The results of antidiabetic activity by non-enzymatic glycosylation method shows that the plant extract of C. lanatus exhibit significant inhibition of glycosylation as compared with standard drug alpha tocopherol. In glucose uptake by yeast cells method, the extract showed greater efficiency in increasing the glucose uptake by yeast cells as compared to standard drug acarbose. In alpha amylase inhibition method, Alpha amylase inhibitors bind to alpha bond of polysaccharide and prevent breakdown of polysaccharide in mono and disaccharide which shows significant activity of plant extract as compared to an acarbose standard drug. Thus from the above findings, it can be concluded that C. lanatus leaves possess a great potential for antioxidant and antidiabetic activity and this plant should be more researched and formulation should be marketed in the recent future. Keywords: Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceous), Watermelon, Anti-oxidant Activity, Anti-diabetic Activity