Botanical Characteristics and in Vitro Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activity of Ixora coccinea L. Flowers

Aims

To characterise the flowers of Ixora coccinea L. botanically, screen their phytochemical constituents, and evaluate the in vitro pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of their extracts. Study Design: Laboratory experimental study combining descriptive botanical characterisation (morphology, anatomy and powder microscopy) with an in vitro enzyme inhibition assay. No physicochemical standardisation parameters were determined. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Pharmacy, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, between April and June 2026. Methodology: Flowers collected in Vinh Huu commune, Dong Thap province, in April 2026 were examined by light microscopy for morphology, the anatomy of the root, stem, leaf and corolla tube after carmine red – iodine green double staining, and the powder elements. A total extract from 500 g of powdered flowers, obtained by cold maceration with ethanol 96 %, was partitioned with n–hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n–butanol. Constituents were identified by specific colour reactions; lipase inhibition was measured by the p–nitrophenyl palmitate assay at 405 nm in triplicate, with orlistat as a positive control.