Pharmacologic studies on the active principles of Calliandra portoticensis leaf extracts.

The constituents of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Calliandra portoricensis leaves were identified to be saponins, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts in mice were 120.2 and 79.4 mg/kg, respectively. Both extracts inhibited the ulcerogenic effects of pylorus ligation and stress (cold-restraint) in rats at a dose of 50 mg/kg i.p. The anti-ulcer effects of the aqueous extract were always more significant than that of the ethanolic extract. This indicates that the higher content of the saponins and/or tannins of the leaf extract may be responsible for the anti-ulcer effects. The leaf extracts also had antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus faecalis. Preliminary screening using isolated smooth muscle indicated some anticholinergic potential.