Unveiling the Bioactive Potential and Pharmacological Spectrum of Dendrobium tortile Lindl

Abstract. Dendrobium tortile Lindl. is a poorly studied orchid whose organ-level pharmacology is unexplored. Total alkaloids, tannins and proteins were quantified in leaves, stems and roots, and methanolic extracts were evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (albumin denaturation) and for in vivo analgesic (acetic acid-induced writhing), aphrodisiac (days 1 and 7) and central nervous system (CNS) depressant (hole-board) activities in Swiss albino mice. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s or Dunnett’s test. Alkaloids were highest in leaves (66.47 ± 1.60 mg/g), whereas roots contained the most tannins (22.39 ± 0.22 mg TAE/g) and proteins (37.24 ± 0.41 mg BSAE/g). In the albumin denaturation assay, IC50 values were 52.81 ± 0.48 μg/mL for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 74.52 ± 0.39 for leaf, 76.71 ± 0.32 for root and 95.42 ± 0.64 μg/mL for stem extracts. All extracts reduced writhing significantly (p < 0.001); the leaf extract was most effective (61.09% at 200 and 63.95% at 400 mg/kg) and comparable to diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg; 59.44%). Leaf and stem extracts at both doses significantly improved all sexual behaviour parameters (p < 0.001), the 400 mg/kg stem extract being most effective (day-1 mount and intromission frequencies, 15.17 ± 0.31 and 13.50 ± 0.72), whereas root extracts were weaker. At 400 mg/kg, leaf, root and stem extracts reduced head dipping to 16.83 ± 0.83, 15.50 ± 1.16 (both p < 0.001) and 20.50 ± 1.40 (p < 0.05), respectively, against 25.17 ± 0.95 in controls. D. tortile is a promising source of bioactive constituents that merit bioactivity-guided isolation.