IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PHARMACY AND CHEMISTRY
Review Article Available online at www.ijrpc.com
AN INSIDE REVIEW OF AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS LINN: A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL PLANT OF INDIA Rai Puneet Kumar*, Jindal Shammy, Gupta Nitin and Rana Rinu Laureate Institute of Pharmacy, Kathog, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India.
ABSTRACT Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Family Amaranthaceae), a very common Indian plant is known for its medicinal properties and commonly known as ‘spiny amaranth’ or ‘pig weed’, ‘‘Kate wali Chaulai (Kanatabhajii)” in ‘Hindi”, cultivated throughout in India, Sri Lanka and distributed throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions of Asia from Japan to Indonesia, the Pacific islands and Australia as a weed in cultivated as well as fallow lands. It is erect spinous annual or perennial herb varying in color from green to purple, native to tropical America. In Indian traditional system of medicine (Ayurveda) the plant is used as febrifuge, antipyretic, laxative and diuretic. Besides its culinary value, it is used to repute for treat digestible, bronchitis, appetizer, biliousness, galactagogue, haematinic, stomachic, nausea, flatulence, anorexia, blood diseases, burning sensation, leucorrhoea, leprosy and piles. Phytochemical investigations prove its importance as valuable medicinal plant. It is known as rich source of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, steroids, amino acids, terpenoids, lipids, saponin, betalain, b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, linoleic acid, rutin, catechuic tannins and carotenoids. The studies on A. spinosus have been carried out by various researchers and a wide spectrum of its pharmacological actions have been explored which may include antidiabetic, antitumor, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, spermatogenic, antifertility, antimalarial, antioxidant properties, etc. The present review is an effort to provide a comprehensive review on morphology, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of A. spinosus.
Keywords: Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthaceae, spiny amaranth, pig weed.
INTRODUCTION The plant kingdom comprises many species of Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human plants containing substances of medicinal society to combat diseases, from the dawn of value, which are yet to be explored. A large civilization. Medicinal plants can be important number of plants are constantly being source of previously unknown chemical screened for their possible medicinal value2. substances with potential therapeutic effects1. The healing powers of traditional herbal The use of natural products with therapeutic medicines have been realized since properties for a long time, mineral, plant and antiquities. About 65% of the world animal products were the main sources of populations have access to local medicinal drugs serve as an important therapeutic plant knowledge system. India is sitting on a agents as well as important raw material for gold mine of well-recorded and traditionally the manufacture of traditional and modern well practiced knowledge of herbal medicine. medicines2. In spite of modern development of India has an officially recorded list of 45,000 sophisticated pharmaceutical chemicals to plant species and estimation put the list of treat illnesses, medicinal plants remain an 7500 species of medicinal plants growing in its important tool for treating illness3. 16 agro-climatic zones under 63.7 million hectares of forest coverage4.
643 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
India is one of the most medico-culturally world10. It is also growing wild in all parts of diverse countries in the world where the main Bangladesh. The plant is commonly found traditional systems of medicine include throughout tropical, subtropical and Himalayan Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. With the regions and is distributed in lower to middle emerging worldwide interest in adopting and hills (3000–5000 ft) of entire north eastern studying traditional systems and exploiting Himalayas11-12. their potential based on different health care Amaranthus spinosus Linn. one of the systems, the evaluation of the rich heritage of medicinal plants of Eastern Himalaya traditional medicine is essential5. Medicinal especially of Sikkim Himalaya, is known as plants contain number of medicinal properties. “prickly amaranthus” in English and “ban lure” One of such plants is Amaranthus spinosus or “dhuti ghans” in Nepali13. It is commonly commonly known as „spiny amaranth‟ or „pig known as Prickly amaranth and locally in weed‟. It is an annual or perennial herb, native Paksitan as Khaddar-chaulai, and „„Kate Wali to tropical America and found throughout India Chaulai (Kanatabhajii)” in „Hindi”, also used as as a weed in cultivated as well as fallow lands. vegetable and cultivated throughout in India, It has been reported to have some Sri Lanka and many tropical countries14-15. pharmacological properties such as antidiabetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, MORPHOLOGY antioxidant and hepatoprotective etc. Amaranthus spinosus Linn are erect, Amaranthus spinosus also use in internal monoecious perennial, up to 1 m. Stem are bleeding, diarrhoea and in excessive terete or obtusely angular, glabrous or slightly menstruation6. pubescent, green, reddish-brown, glabrous, and branched. The leaves alternate and are Taxonomic Classification simple without stipules; petiole is Kingdom: Plantae approximately as long as the leafblade16-17.The Division: Magnoliophyta blade shape is ovate-lanceolate to rhomboid, Class: Magnoliopsida acute and often slightly decurrent at base, Order: Caryophyllales obtuse, rounded or slightly ret use and often Family: Amaranthaceae short mucronate at apex, entire, glabrous or Genus: Amaranthus slightly pubescent on veins when young18-19. Species: spinosus7 The inflorencence are terminal and axillary, spike-like, erect, slender and elongated, with Vernacular names remote axillary spikes at base, lower clusters, English: Prickly Amaranth, Needle burr, pistillate, upper staminate. Bracteole are Spiny amaranth, Thorny amaranth longer than or as long as tepal, scarious, ovate Hindi: Kanta chaulai, weakly spiny-tipped. Staminate flowers with 3, Gujarati: Kantalo dhimdo, Kantanu dant oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute or shortly spiny Manipuri: Chengkruk tipped tepals. Pistillate flowers with 5, 1-1.5 Marathi: Kante bhaji, kante math mm long, white-membranous, acute or shortly Tamil: Mullukkeerai spiny-tipped tepals16-17.The fruit is ovoid Malayalam: Kattumullenkeera shaped, mostly dehiscent, compressed, Telugu: Mullatotakura ellipsoidal, acute or obtuse, with a short Kannada: Mulluharive soppu inflated neck below the style base, Bengali: Kantanotya circumsessile a little below the middle or Oriya: Kantaneutia indehiscent (Figure 1). The seed is about 1 Sanskrit: Tanduliuyah8 mm in diameter, shiny, compressed, black or brownish-black in colour16-19. GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE Amaranthus spinosus Linn. is an erect, TRADITIONAL USES spinous annual or perennial herb varying in The juice of A. spinosus is used by tribal of colour from green to purple, is widely Kerala, India to prevent swelling around distributed throughout the tropics and warm stomach while the leaves are boiled without temperate regions of Asia from Japan to salt and consumed for 2–3 days to cure Indonesia to India, the Pacific islands, native jaundice. It is used as anti-inflammatory, to tropical America and Australia as a weed in antimalarial, antibacterial, antimicrobial, cultivated as well as fallow lands8-9. It is a antidiuretic, antiviral and hepatic disorders. common weed of waste places, roadsides and The plant possess hepatoprotective, path sides and near rivers in Ghana. The plant antioxidant activity, water extract of plant has a long history of usage in traditional showed significant immune-stimulating activity medicine against various ailments around the and stem extract showed antimalarial
644 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
activities2,15,20. It used internally in the mainland South-East Asia, during the rainy treatment of internal bleeding, diarrhoea and in season which is also malaria endemic season, excessive menstruation6,19. In Indian traditional A. spinosus bark decoction is taken in a system of medicine (Ayurveda) the plant is volume of about one liter three times a day to used as febrifuge, antipyretic, laxative and ward off malaria19. In India the root extract is diuretic. Besides its culinary value, it is a given as a vermicide among the Santhali and popular medicinal plant used to reputed for Paharia in eastern Bihar, while an aqueous treat digestible, bronchitis, appetizer, decoction of the plant is given to check chronic biliousness, galactagogue, haematinic, diarrhoea in Southern Orissa20. stomachic effects, nausea, flatulence, anorexia, blood diseases, burning sensation, PHYTOCHEMISTRY leucorrhoea, leprosy, piles and as a treatment Phytochemical studies revealed that the plant for hallucination, healing of wounds and A. spinosus have several active constituents rheumatism, and to arrest the coughing up of like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic blood. All parts of the plant are known to acids, steroids, amino acids, terpenoids, lipids, contain medicinally active constituents9, saponins, betalains, b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 12,13,14,20. linoleic acid, rutin, catechuic tannins and Medicinal uses of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. carotenoids. The betalains in stem bark of A. as mentioned in Ayurvedic text is: Leaf spinosus were identified as amaranthine, infusion is diuretic and used in anemia. Root isoamaranthine, hydroxycinnamates, quercetin paste is used in gonorrhoea, eczema, and kaempferol glycosides. It also contains menorrhoea etc. Ethnic use of this plant is amaranthoside, a lignan glycoside, amaricin, mainly with village people of Sikkim who use and a coumaroyl adenosine along with leaf infusion of in stomach disorder especially stigmasterol glycoside, betaine such as in case of indigestion and peptic ulcer12. The glycinebetaine and trigonelline (Figure 2, leaves and roots are applied as poultice to Figure 3)2, 11, 14, 15, 20. relief bruises, abscesses, burns, wound, Amaranthus spinosus contains 7-p-coumaroyl inflammation, menorrhagia, gonorrhoea, apigenin 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, a new eczema, gastroenteritis, gall bladder coumaroyl flavone glycoside called spinoside, inflammation, arthritis and for the treatment of xylofuranosyl uracil, beta-D-ribofuranosyl snakebites. The plant is used in the treatment adenine, beta-sitosterol glucoside, of abdominal pain, chicken pox, dysentery, betaxanthin, betacyanin; gomphrenin, betanin dysurea, fever, hysteria, malaria, mania, and beta-carotene9,19,21. The leaves and stems tonsillitis & vomiting2,20. Recent studies also revealed contain hentriacontane, showed antidiabetic property of Amaranthus octacosanoid, α-spinasterol, saponin and fatty spinosus Linn. Ethnic use as reported in acids11.The roots contain α‐spinasterols literature is mainly in peptic ulcer. Leaf juice of octacosanoate and saponin, viz. saponin of the plant, two tea spoonful thrice a day, is oleanolic acid22. given to patients suffering from peptic ulcer13. The Chinese use A. spinosus as a traditional PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS medicine to treat diabetes. The seed is used Antidiabetic as a poultice for broken bones. The root is The ethanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus known as an effective diuretic. In South-East leaves was administered (150, 300 and 450 Asia a decoction of the root is used to treat mg/kg bw) to type-1 and type-2 diabetic rats. gonorrhoea and is also applied as an Standard drugs, glibenclamide and metformin emmenagogue and antipyretic. The Nepalese were used as a positive control for and some tribes in India apply A. spinosus to comparison. Changes in carbohydrate and induce abortion. In Thai traditional medicine, lipid metabolism and antioxidants were A. spinosus is used to treat diarrhoea. The assessed and compared with control and root is also used for toothaches. In many standard drug treated animals. Higher doses countries, including those in Africa, the bruised of extract significantly decreased plasma leaves are considered a good emollient and glucose levels, hepatic glucose-6-phophatase applied externally in cases of ulcerated activity and increased the hepatic glycogen mouths, eczema, burns, wounds, boils, content with a concurrent increase in earache and hemorrhoids. The plant ash in a hexokinase activity in both type 1 and 2 solution is used to wash sores. The plant sap diabetic rats. It also significantly lowered the is used as an eye wash to treat ophthalmia plasma and hepatic lipids, urea, creatinine and convulsions in children. In Malaysia, A. levels and lipid peroxidation with an spinosus is used as an expectorant and to improvement in the antioxidant profiles of both relieve breathing in acute bronchitis. In type-1 and type-2 diabetic rats. It is concluded
645 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
that A. spinosus has potential antidiabetic vehicle were orally administered to rats (n=6 activity and significantly improves disrupted animals per group) and their urine output was metabolisms and antioxidant defense in type-1 collected after 24h. Volume, pH, Na+, K+ and and type-2 diabetic rats23. Cl- concentrations of urine were estimated. The methanol extract of Amaranthus spinosus ASAE produced increase in Na+, K+, and Cl- stem was investigated for its anti- excretion, caused alkalinization of urine, and hyperglycemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects showed strong saluretic activity and carbonic in male Wister albino rats. Diabetes was anhydrase inhibition activity. These effects induced in the albino rats by administration of were observed predominantly at 500mg/kg a single dose of alloxan monohydrate (150 dose and suggested that the A. spinosus is mg/kg, i.p). The methanol extract of A. acting as a thiazide like diuretic27. spinosus (MEAS) was administered daily at single doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o to Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity diabetes-induced rats for a period of 15 days. This study show hepatoprotective activity of The effect of MEAS on blood glucose level the 50% ethanol extracts of the whole plant of was measured in the diabetic rats. Serum lipid Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae) profiles were also determined. The activities against d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide were also compared to the effect produced by (d-GalN/LPS)-induced liver injury in rats was a standard anti diabetic agent, glibenclamide. evaluated. d-GalN/LPS (300 mg/kg body It is established the pharmacological evidence weight/30 µg/kg body weight)-induced hepatic which support the folklore claim that MEAS is damage was manifested increase in the an anti diabetic agent24. activities of marker enzymes (aspartate This study deals with the scientific evaluation transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline of alpha amylase and the antioxidant potential phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and of methanol extract of A. spinosus (MEAS). gamma glutamyl transferase) and bilirubin The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro level in serum while phospholipids significantly alpha amylase enzyme inhibition by CNPG3 decreased. All other parameters, i.e. (2-chloro-4-nitrophenol a-D-maltotrioside) and cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids in vivo antioxidant potential of were increased significantly in both serum and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), liver compared to the control group. catalase (CAT) and total thiols (TT) in alloxan- Pretreatment of rats with A. spinous extract induced diabetic rats of a methanolic extract of (400 mg/kg) reversed these altered A. spinosus. This study provides evidence that parameters to normal compared to the the methanolic extract of A. spinosus has intoxicated group. The biochemical potent alpha amylase, anti-diabetic and observations were supplemented by antioxidant activities25. histopathological examination of liver sections. Results of this study revealed that A. spinosus Anti-cholesterolemic activity extract could afford a significant protection In this study, the anti-diabetic and anti- against d-GalN/LPS-induced hepatocellular cholesterolemic activity of methanol extracts of injury28. leaves of Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity spinosus and Amaranthus viridis was of 50% ethanolic extract of whole plant of evaluated by using normal and streptozotocin Amaranthus spinosus (ASE) was studied (STZ) induced diabetic rats at a dose of 200 against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o. daily for 21 days. hepatic damage in rats. The ASE at dose of Blood glucose levels and body weight were 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were administered monitored at specific intervals, and different orally once daily for fourteen days. The biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol, substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels serum triglyceride; high density lipoprotein, low of serum glutamate oxaloacetate density lipoprotein and very low density transaminase (AST), serum glutamate lipoprotein were assessed. Histology of pyruvate transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline pancreas was performed. It was found that all phosphatase (SALP) and total bilirubin were the three plants showed significant anti- restored towards normalization significantly by diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity26. the ASE in a dose dependent manner. Higher dose exhibited significant hepatoprotective Diuretic activity activity against carbon tetrachloride induced The diuretic potential of Amaranthus spinosus hepatotoxicity in rats. The biochemical aqueous extract (ASAE) in rats was evaluated. observations were supplemented with Different concentrations of ASAE (200, 500, histopathological examination of rat liver 1000, 1500mg/kg), thiazide (10mg/kg) and sections. Meanwhile, in vivo antioxidant
646 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
activities as malondialdehyde (MDA), morphine and naloxone while formalin induced hydroperoxides, reduced glutathione (GSH), pain (0.05 ml of 2.5%) was significantly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase blocked only at higher dose (400mg/kg) in first (CAT) were also screened which were also phase. ASE significantly blocked pain found significantly positive in a dose emanating from inflammation at all the doses dependent manner. The results of this study in second phase. The reaction time in hot plate strongly indicate that whole plants of A. was increased significantly and dose spinosus have potent hepatoprotective activity dependently where as pretreatment with against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic naloxone rigorously reduced the analgesic damage in experimental animals29. potentials of ASE. Further in tail immersion The 50% ethanolic extract (ASE) of test the same dose dependent and significant Amaranthus spinosus (whole plant) was activity was observed. Aspirin had no effect on evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and thermal induced pain i.e. hot plate and tail hepatoprotective activity. The total phenolics immersion tests but showed an effect on and reducing capacity of ASE was determined writhing test. This studied show that A. using standard curve of gallic acid (0- spinosus possess significant and dose 1.0mg/ml) and butylated hydroxy anisole dependant anti-inflammatory activity, it has (BHA). In vitro antioxidant activity was also central and peripheral analgesic activity31. determined by DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl Successive petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and radicals, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide methanol extracts of the whole plant of scavenging methods. The hepatoprotective Amaranthus spinosus Linn. were investigated activity of ASE was evaluated at 6, 7, 8, 9 and for the analgesic activity. Experiments were 10 microg/ml concentration against CCl4 (1%) carried out with these extracts for their induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat peripheral and central anti-nociceptive hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. ASE was found potentials on acetic acid induced writhing and to contain 336+/-14.3mg/g total poly phenolics radiant heat tail-flick models in mice, expressed as gallic acid equivalent while the respectively. In both the models, methanolic reducing capacity was 2.26 times of BHA. ASE extract showed significant writhing inhibition as possesses significant hepatoprotective activity well as the elongation of tail-flick time at a which might be due to antioxidant defence dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. A linear dose factors and phenolics might be the main response relationship was also observed11. constituents responsible for activity30. The methanol extracts of Amaranthus Amaranthus spinosus roots were extracted spinosus Linn. leaves were evaluated for anti- successively with petroleum ether (80-100°C), inflammatory activities in different animal ethyl acetate and methanol by Soxhlet models. The extract (25–100 mg/kg) inhibited process. All the extracts were subjected to the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content produced significant inhibition of acetic acid– and antioxidant activity using DPPH assay and induced increased vascular permeability. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay Inhibition of the cotton pellet granuloma was (FRAP). Ethyl acetate extract showed the also inhibited by 100 mg/kg of the plant highest antioxidant activity with 61.47 ± 4.8 % extract. Analgesic activity was exhibited with inhibition at a higher concentration. The three the significant and dose-related reduction in solvents; Methanol, ethyl acetate and Pet- the number of writhings induced with acetic ether extracts showed moderate activity when acid, as well reduction in paw licking induced compared with the standard. In all, ethyl by injection of formalin in mice. These results acetate extract generally, exhibited the highest demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties values of antioxidants10. of the leaf extract of A. spinosus. It is also suggested that the plant extract probably acts Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity by the inhibition of prostaglandin The 50% ethanol extract (ASE) of Amaranthus biosynthesis32. spinosus (whole plant) has been studied for The petroleum ether and ethanolic extract of antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities. whole plant of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. The Analgesic and antiinflammatory activities were tested for anti‐inflammatory activity at the were studied by measuring nociception by dosed of 250,500 and 750 mg/kg body weight. formalin, acetic acid, hot plate, tail immersion The extract produced dose dependent and method while inflammation was induced by significant inhibition of carrageenan induced carrageenan. ASE had significant dose paw oedema. The exhibited anti‐inflammatory dependent percentage protection against activity of this plant was comparable with the acetic acid (0.6% of 10 ml) induced pain and standard drug Ibuprofen. The presence of the effects were also compared to aspirin, steroids, alkaloids & flavonoids in the extracts
647 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
may be contributory to its anti-inflammatory was found out that the leaves of A. spinosus activity22. Linn. exerted anti peptic ulcer activity against ethanol and cysteamine induced peptic Spermatogenic activity ulcerations but the activity was less than that Anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and of omeprazole12. spermatogenic effects were studies with Anti gastric ulcer activity of root stems and methanolic extract of stem of Amaranthus leaves of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. were spinosus Linn. in diabetic rats. In studied against ethanol, hydrochloric acid, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, it indomethacin, stress and pyloric ligation was observed that both the standard drug induced gastric ulceration in albino rats. (Glibenclamide) and methanolic extract of A. Omeprazole was used as standard anti gastric spinosus Linn. significantly exhibited control of ulcer drug. Significant anti gastric ulcer activity blood glucose level on a 15 day model. was noted in root, stem and leaves of A. Further, the methanolic extract also showed spinosus Linn. Root of the plant, however, significant anti-hyperlipidemic and showed highest activity which was comparable spermatogenic effects in STZ-induced diabetic to that of omeprazole13. rats. The methanolic extract has also accelerated the process of spermatogenesis Antibacterial and cytotoxity activity by increasing the sperm count and accessory This study was to find out the antibacterial and sex organ weights33. cytotoxic activity of chloroform, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Amaranthus spinosus. Anti-hyperlipidemic activity Disc diffusion technique was used for in vitro The anti-hyperlipidemic activity of methanol antibacterial screening against gram positive extracts of leaves of three plants of and gram negative human pathogenic Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus spinosus, bacteria. In case of A. spinosus all extracts Amaranthus viridis were studied. In this study, showed good antibacterial activity against both the anti-hyperlipidemic effects investigated by gram positive and gram negative & average using normal and triton-WR 1339 induced rats zone of inhibition 8-15mm. The Brine shrimp at the dose of 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg p.o. lethality bioassay method was used to The serum harvested was analyzed for total determine the cytotoxicity activities and cholesterol, triglycerides, high density Vincristine Sulphate was used as positive lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. It was control. The LC50 values of standard found that all the three plants at 400 mg/kg vincristine sulphate, chloroform, n-hexane and dose showed significant anti-hyperlipidemic ethyl acetate extract were 7.55μg/ml, 18.15 effect, whereas 300 mg/kg dose is less μg/ml, 29.51μg/ml & 18.15μg/ml respectively significant in the entire parameters used for for the A. spinosus2. evaluation of anti hyperlipidemic effect34. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of Amaranthus spinosus (roots) were investigated for their Heamatological properties antibacterial activity against ten bacterial This study is designed to study the strains including Gram-positive and Gram- hematocellular indices i.e. Red blood cell negative bacteria using the agar-well diffusion count (RBC), White blood cell count ( WBC) method. The extracts tested, the ethanol and Hemoglobin (Hb), following oral extract presented the best results while the administration of methanolic extract of aqueous extract showed moderate inhibition of Amaranthus spinosus at a dose of 250mg/kg the microbial growth. Each extract is unique body weight in albino rats. The study was against different microorganisms35. carried out by single and daily administration of dose for 5, 7 & 14 days. Results revealed Antidiarrhoeal activity that the RBC and WBC count as well as Hb% The ethanol extract (50%) of the whole plant of was significantly altered due to administration Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (ASE) significantly of methanolic extract of A. spinosus6. inhibited travel of a charcoal meal at three different doses of ASE, but when 400 mg/kg of Antipepticulcer activity ASE was repeated in the presence of Anti peptic ulcer activity of the leaves of yohimbine, intestinal propulsive inhibition Amaranthus spinosus Linn., a plant of Eastern decreased, while morphine reversed the Himalaya, was studied in peptic ulcer models activity. The percentages related to controls in rats. Gastric and duodenal ulcers were for the onset of diarrhoea were 16.58, 83.42, induced by ethanol and cysteamine and 116.18% at doses of 100, 200, and 400 respectively. Results were compared with mg/kg of ASE, while with morphine this value omeprazole, a known drug for peptic ulcer. It was 123.93% compared to controls. The
648 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
percentage purging frequency related to mice. The ethanol extract of its leaves given controls was 41.09, 64.38, 71.23, and 86.30% orally to mice at the dose of 100 and 200 at three different doses of ASE and with mg/kg body weight for 16 days. It was morphine, respectively. The inhibitions in observed that decrease in tumor volume and intestinal accumulation were 8.9, 48.16, and viable cell count, while increase in mean 68.06% at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg survival time and non viable tumor cell count, of ASE, respectively, compared to control, when compared to the mice of the EAC control while inhibition with yohimbine was 50.78%. group. Restoration of hematological and Antidiarrahoeal indices of ASE were 23.55, biochemical parameters towards normal was 49.16, and 76.53 at the three different doses also observed. The results suggest that the of ASE, while morphine had a maximum index ethanol extract of A. spinosus leaves exhibits of 88.420. significant antitumor effects in EAC bearing mice37. Bronchodilator and spasmolytic activity The aqueous-methanolic extract of Antimicrobial activity Amaranthus spinosus Linn. whole plant, was Amaranthus spinosus L. was screened for studied in-vivo for bronchodilator and laxative antimicrobial activity. The bioparts, namely, activities and in-vitro using isolated tissue root, stem, leaves and flower, extracted in preparations which were mounted in tissue distilled water, hexane and methanol were baths assembly containing physiological salt assayed against five bacterial strains such as solutions, maintained at 37°C and aerated with Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia coli, carbogen, to assess the spasmolytic effect Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Paracoccus and to find out the possible underlying sp. and three fungal strains, namely, Fusarium mechanisms. These results indicate that A. sp., Aspergillus sp. and Alternaria sp. spinosus possesses laxative activity partially Preliminary qualitative analysis was also done. mediated through cholinergic action. The Stem and flower of A. spinosus displayed spasmolytic effect was mediated through more antibacterial activity among the bioparts. calcium channel blocking (CCB), while Maximum zones of inhibition in E. coli (14 mm) bronchodilator activity through a combination and Pseudomonas (13 mm) were noticed in of β-adrenergic and CCB pathways, which stem extract in distilled water (4.7 mg/disc) may explain the traditional uses of A. spinosus and methanol (3.8 mg/disc), respectively. in gut and airways disorders14. Distilled water fraction of flower inhibited all strains under investigation. Maximum zones of Anthelmintic activity inhibition in respect of Staphylococcus (10 Water extracts of whole plant of Amaranthus mm), Paracoccus (9 mm) and Klebsiella (15 spinosus Linn. was evaluated for anthelmintic mm) were evident in flower extracted in on adult Indian earthworms (Pheritima various solvents. The methanol fraction of the posthuma) and Tubifex tubifex, using bioparts exhibited total inhibition of fungal piperazine citrate as reference standard. growth. Root, stem and leaves of A. spinosus Aqueous extract showed anthelmintic activity extracted in hexane imparted partial inhibition in dose‐dependent manner giving shortest on all fungal strains38. time of paralysis(P) and death(D) with 50 mg/ml concentration, for both the worms. Antimalarial activity Extract shows more potent activity (15 mg/ml) Extracts obtained from two Burkinabe folk against Tubifex tubifex22. medicine plants, Amaranthus spinosus Linn., and Boerhaavia erecta Linn., were screened Antipyretic activity for antimalarial properties with the aim of Methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus testing the validity of their traditional uses. The leaves was screened for antipyretic activities. plant extracts showed significant antimalarial Antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of A. activities in the 4-day suppressive antimalarial spinosus was measured by yeast induced assay in mice inoculated with red blood cells pyrexia method at concentration of 200 and parasitized with Plasmodium berghei berghei. 400 mg/kg using paracetamol as standard We obtained values for ED (50) of 789 and drug. Methanolic extract of A. spinosus 564 mg/kg for A. spinosus and B. erecta showed significant (P<0.01) antipyretic extracts, respectively39. activity36. Antifertility activity Antitumor activity The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of root of The antitumor potentials of Amaranthus Amaranthus spinosus Linn. was exploring spinosus against EAC bearing Swiss albino antifertility activity in rats. Antifertility
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screenings of water and ethanolic extract of A. treatment of conventional illness. The spinosus were done by the reproductive extensive survey literature reviewed that outcome in mice, anti-implantation, Amaranthus spinosus Linn. is an important abortifacient, estrogenic and anti estrogenic medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological activity in rats. The water extract of the root of spectrum. Lot of pharmacological studies has plant showed the decrease in number of been carried out with extract of the different implants and number of litters when compared parts of the plant. The plant is widely used in with the ethanolic extract as the percentage of traditional medicinal system of India and has implantation failure increased. The extract been reported to possess antidiabetic, shows furthermore, non significant increase in antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, uterine weight in immature ovariectomised hepatoprotective, antimalarial, antibacterial, rats. Simultaneous administrations of extracts antimicrobial, antidiuretic, antiviral and in with ethinyl estradiol cause significant hepatic disorders . The whole plant parts of antiestrogenic activity. All these observations the plant are known to contain medicinally suggest that aqueous and ethanolic extracts of active constituents. Due to medicinal A. spinosus Linn. have weak antifertility properties there is enormous scope for future effect40. research on Amaranthus spinosus Linn. in various treatments and recommend that CONCLUSION further phytochemical, pharmacological Medicinal plants have attracted considerable investigation and clinical research should be global interest in recent years. Investigation of conducted to investigate unexploited potential traditional medicine is very important for the of this plant for the discovery of safer drugs. welfare of rural and tribal communities for the
Fig. 1: Morphological view of Amaranthus spinosus Linn
Fig. 2: Structure of betanin and amaranthine
650 IJRPC 2014, 4(3), 643-653 Rai Puneet Kumar et al. ISSN: 22312781
Fig. 3: Structure of quercetin and kaempferol
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