African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (11), pp. 1313-1316, November 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biological activities of aerial parts of Paeonia emodi Wall

Taous Khan^1*, Mansoor Ahmad¹, Hamayun Khan² and Mir Azam Khan³

¹Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

²Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Korea.

³Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Pakistan.

ФPresent address: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Republic of Korea. Phone: +82 53 950 5621. Fax: +82 53 950 6615. E.mail: taouskhan@hotmail.com.

Accepted 5 August, 2005

The ethanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of Paeonia emodi was screened for various in vitro biological activities including antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, phytotoxic and haemagglutination activities. General toxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay) of this extract has also been assessed. The extract was found to possess excellent phytotoxicity against Lemna minor L., moderate heamagglutination activity against human erythrocytes and reasonable insecticidal activity against Bruchus pisorum. The crude extract did not display any antifungal or antibacterial activity against the fungi and bacteria used in this study. No significant general toxicity was observed with the extract at tested concentrations.

Key words: Paeonia emodi, biological activities, phytotoxicity, heamagglutination, insecticidal activity.