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Effect Of Effect Of Asteracantha Longifolia Asteracantha ...

Research Letter
Effect of
Effect of Asteracantha longifolia on haematological
on haematological
parameters in rats
parameters in rats
Anaemia is a common nutritional disorder, mainly caused
two died after three days. The LD studies revealed that albino
50
by iron deficiency. Asteracantha longifolia Nees (Family
rats tolerated a considerably high dose of petroleum ether
Acanthaceae) is a source of the ayurvedic drug, ‘Kokilaaksha,’
extract (1000 mg/kg, body weight, i.p.), without any
and the Unani drug, Talimakhana. Asteracantha longifolia is
manifestations.
useful in treating diseases of the blood. [1] The aim of the study
A haematological study was performed using Swiss albino
was to investigate petroleum ether extract plant leaves of
rats (90-110 g) of either sex. The test animals were divided
Asteracantha longifolia on haematological parameters in
into five groups of six rats in each group. Group I was kept as
anaemic rats. The study was performed with due permission
the control group (administered vehicle only), Group II was
from the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (Registration
the cyclophosphamide (CP) control group (3 mg/kg, body
No. 397/01/ab/CPCSEA). Male albino rats (90-110 g) of either
weight, i.p.). Group III was given petroleum ether extract alone
sex, maintained under standard conditions, were used. The
(500 mg/kg, body weight, i.p.), Group IV was given CP (3 mg/
fresh leaves of Asteracantha longifolia were authenticated at
kg) and petroleum extract at dose of 250 mg/kg, body weight,
the Department of Botany, Dr. H.S. Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar
i.p. and Group V was treated with CP (3 mg/kg) and 500 mg/
(MP). The powdered leaves (600 g) were extracted in the
kg, body weight, i.p. of petroleum ether extract.
Soxhlet apparatus for 18 h with petroleum ether (60-80oC).
Haematological parameters were evaluated in the anaemic
One gram of petroleum ether extract was mixed with 10 ml of
animal model. The animals were maintained in standard
groundnut oil.[2]
conditions (temperature, relative humidity, light/day cycles)
The LD study was performed using albino rats (90-110 g)
and given a normal diet and water ad libitum. Anaemia was
50
of either sex. The test animals were divided into six groups of
induced by cyclophosphamide (3 mg/kg, body weight) given
six rats in each group. The drugs were administered i.p.,
i.p. for seven days. On the seventh day, blood samples were
according to body weight. Groups I, II, III, IV, V and VI received
collected from the retro-orbital plexus vein of the rats’ eyes in
petroleum ether extract in doses of 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250
vials containing EDTA as the anticoagulant. These samples
and 1500 mg/kg, respectively. Groups I, II, III were found to be
were evaluated for haematological parameters (erythrocyte
healthy after seven days. In Group IV, one rat died after a day
count, leukocyte count, haemoglobin count and haematocrit
of extract administration while the remaining five died after
value) using haematology cell counter (ERMA, Japan),
three days. In Group VI, three albino rats died after 24 h, while
repeatedly (five times) to check the reproducibility of results.
Table 1
Effect of petroleum ether extract (PEE) of A. longifolia in cyclophosphamide (CP) treated albino rats
Treatment
Mean RBCs (106 / µl)
Mean WBCs (103 /µl)
Mean Hb Conc. (gm/dl)
Mean Haematocrit (%)
Day 7
Control
7.85 ±0.614
8.4 ±0.263
14.6 ±0.522
49.5 ±0.135
Control (CP, 3 mg/ kg)
4.45 ±0.462
3.8 ±0.268
9.2 ±0.336
34.6 ±1.75
PEE (500 mg/kg)
7.39 ±0.224a
7.9 ±0.623a1
13.9 ±0.224a2
48.92 ±0.311a3
CP+PEE (250 mg/kg)
6.13 ±0.548a
5.0 ±0.795a1
11.9 ±0.985a2
41.2 ±2.45a3
CP+PEE (500 mg/kg)
6.2 ±0.423a
6.5 ±0.874a1
12.4 ±0.896a2
43.8 ±2.980a3
Day 22
Control (CP, 3 mg/ kg)
5.65 ±0.936
6.9 ±0.246
8.9 ±0.928
41.6 ±1.98
PEE (500 mg/kg)
7.80 ±0.225b
8.2 ±0.342b1
14.1 ±0.328b2
48.35 ±1.65b3
CP+PEE (250 mg/kg)
6.35 ±0.418b
6.9 ±0.148b1
12.6 ±0.472b2
44.2 ±1.54b3
CP+PEE (500 mg/kg)
7.75 ±0.210b
8.0 ±0.481b1
13.9 ±0.334b2
47.8 ±1.15b3
Values are expressed as mean±SEM. n=6 albino rats per group. a,a1,a2,a3P<0.05 when compared to CP control (day 7). b, b1, b2, b3 P<0.05 when compared to CP control
(day 22).
Indian J Pharmacol | August 2006 | Vol 38 | Issue 4 | 285-286
285
Research Letter
A significant lowering in blood parameters was observed. After
administration of the extract. These investigations validate the
seven days, cyclophosphamide was withdrawn from all groups
use of the leaves of this plant, in the Indian system of medicine,
and the groups were treated with petroleum ether extract of
for haematopoietic activity. In the present work, we have not
A. longifolia once a day, at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg
studied the toxic effects caused by the extract. We aimed at
body weight continuously up to 15 days.
investigating the haematopoietic activity of the plant extract
Blood was collected on the 22nd day and evaluated for
and the results of the present study lead to the conclusion
haematological parameters.[3,4] All values are expressed as
that A. longifolia has great potential as a haematopoietic agent.
mean+SEM. The data were statistically analysed using the
one-way ANOVA, followed by the Dunnett’s test. [Table 1]
The cyclophosphamide (CP) control group (Group II) showed
R.S. Pawar, A.P. Jain, S. Kashaw, A. Singhai
significant (P>0.05) decrease in blood parameters as
Division of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry,
compared to the vehicle control group (Group I), without drug
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
treatment. The comparison of Group II with Groups III, IV
Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar-470003. India
and V exhibited a significant (P<0.05) increase in
E-mail: abhay_singhai@rediffmail.com
haematological parameters af ter seven days.
Cyclophosphamide-induced anaemia in Group II was not
restored to normal counts even after the discontinuation of
References
the drug after seven days. Upon continuation of petroleum
1. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants, Periodical Export. New Delhi,
ether extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg, body weight, respectively,
1987.
for the next 15 days there was a significant (P<0.05)
2. Mazumdar UK, Gupta M, Maiti S, Mukherjee D. Antitumor activity of Hygrophila
improvement in haematological parameters in Groups III, IV
spinosa on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and sarcoma-180 induced mice. Indian
and V as compared to Group II.
J Exp Biol 1997;35:473-7.
In rats, CP has a bone marrow suppressive effect and
3. Mazumdar UK, Gupta M, Maiti S. Effect of petroleum ether extract from
Hygrophila spinosa on haematological parameters and hepatorenal functions
induces aplastic anaemia. CP treatment (3 mg/kg, body weight,
in mice. Indian J Exp Biol 1996;34:1201-3.
i.p.) resulted in the significant lowering of haematological
4. Pedrazzi AHP, Rodrigues ER, Zanardo-Filho A, Franco JJ. Haematological
parameters on the seventh day. All the haematological indices
evaluation of “Carqueja” (Baccharis trimera) infusion. Fitoterapia 1997;38:
were restored to almost normal counts after continuous
26-8.
International Conference on
Toxicology, Toxicogenomics and Occupational Health (ICTTOH)
&
26th Annual Meeting of Society of Toxicology
(STOX) India
Date : October 9-11, 2006
Place : Gwalior
Contact for further details:
Dr. (Mrs) Sangeeta Shukla
School of Studies in Zoology,
Jiwaji University, Gwalior – 474 011.
Phone: +91 751 4016750 (O); 09826038184 (M); +91 751 4010465, 4016789 (Fax)
E-mail: rblstox26@rediffmail.com; Web site: http://www.jiwaji.edu
286
Indian J Pharmacol | August 2006 | Vol 38 | Issue 4 | 285-286