Introduction : Hybanthus enneaspermus F. Muell, is a herb distributed in different parts of world. Hybanthus enneaspermus is used to treat urinary infections, leucorrhoea, diarrhea, cholera, gonorrhea, inflammation, dysuria and sterility.

Methods : Ethyl alcohol has been used for the extraction of Hybanthus enneaspermus plant using hot extraction method. Total phenol, total flavonoid and total flavonol content of various fractions was also determined. To know the importance of phytoconstituents rich fractions on secondary complication of diabetes, aldose reductase inhibitory potential of these fractions in rat lens was investigated in vitro. Healthy adult Wistar albino rats (150-200 g) were taken for the study and were housed under standard environmental conditions.

Results : The results revealed the presence of numerous phytoconstituents in different fractions, however significant level of phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol content was found to be in the ethyl acetate fraction i.e. total phenol (212.15±0.79 mg/g) and total flavonoid (39.11± 2.27 mg/g)] compared to other fractions i.e. aqueous fraction, chloroform fraction and petrolium ether fraction. Further TLC analysis also revealed the highest number of phytoconstituents in the ethyl fractions compared to other fractions. ARI activity of each fraction was evaluated in rat lens and found to showed maximum in the ethyl acetate fraction [IC50 (49.26±1.76 µg/ml)] compared to aqueous, petroleum ether and chloroform fraction.

Conclusions : Various fractions showed significant level of ARI activity, but it was found to be maximum in ethyl acetate fraction which may be due to the presence of high phenolic and flavonoid content.