International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science & Innovation Volume 1 Issue 2 Formulation and Phytochemical Standardization of Achyranthes Aspera L. Deepesh Chouhan1, Mani Singh Jadaun2, Toni Shah3 1Vice-Principal, 2,3Lecturer Dr.Tandon Pharmacy College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Authors Email Id: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT The aim of the present work was to Formulate & phytochemical standardization of Achyranthes aspera (L.). In order to investigate the traditional, folkloric and ethanomedicinal uses of the plant, the present study was undertaken on the basis of literature review, the work was planned to examine the anti-bacterial activity of extract of leaves of Achyranthes aspera (L.)The preliminary phytochemical screening was also undertaken and it revealed that the plant’s aqueous extracts contains triterpenoid saponins which possess oleanolic acid as the aglycone. Ecdysterone, an insect moulting hormone, and long chain alcohols are also found in Achyranthes aspera. Other chemical constituents such as achyranthine, betaine, pentatriacontane, 6-pentatriacontanone, hexatriacontane, and tritria -contane are also present. Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) is an important medicinal herb found as a weed throughout India. Though almost all of its parts are used in traditional systems of medicines, seeds, roots and shoots are the most important parts which are used medicinally. The present article gives an account of updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. The review reveals that wide numbers of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the plant which possesses activities like antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative, laxative, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic and various other important medicinal properties. The crushed plant is used in pneumonia and infusion of the root is used as mild astringent in bowel complaints. Decoction of powdered leaves with honey or sugar candy is useful in early stages of diarrhoea and dysentery. For the last few decades or so, extensive research work has been done to prove its biological activities and pharmacology of its extracts. Saponins, oleonolic acid, dihydroxy ketones, alkaloids, long chain compounds and many other chemical constituents have been isolated. Keywords: Achyranthes aspera, Latjeera, Medicinal properties, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities. INTRODUCTION Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Family: Amaranthaceae Botanical Name: Achyranthes aspera Genus: Achyranthes Common Name: Aandhijhara Species: aspera CLASSIFICATION Part Used: Whole plant, specially leaves, Kingdom: Plantae stem. Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Magnoliophyta Medicinal Properties: Anti- Class: Magnoliopsida inflammatory, Expectorant, astringent, Subclass: Caryophyllidae Alexiteric, Appetiser, Stomachic, CR Journals (Page 1–18) 2021. All Rights Reserved Page 1 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science & Innovation Volume 1 Issue 2 Deobstruent, Antispasmodic, Antiseptic, remedies. It is estimated that about 80% Dentrifrices. of the world population residing in the vast rural areas of the developing and Medicinal Use: Dental Caries, Asthma, under developed countries still depends Itching, Infusion and Hysteria, Externally mainly on medicinal plants. It is quite in skin diseases, in foul ulcers, convulsions obvious that the plant is widely used in in children diseases. The leaves are also traditional medicinal system of India and useful in tooth decay. has been reported to possess hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, Chemistry: leaves contains: triterpenoid antitussive, antifungal and also used to saponins, betaine, achyranthine, check wounds healing and antibacterial hentriacontane, ecdysterone and two properties. Achyranthes aspera is a very glycosides of oleanolic acid. Seeds: amino important plant for its large number of acids. medicinal properties as well as medicinally important chemicals like ecdysterone, Regional Habitat: Found in tropical areas achyranthine, betaine, pentatriaontane, 6- pentatriacontanone, hexatriacontane and Description: It is an erect or prostrate, tritriacontane. The plant shows many annual or perennial herb about 1m to 2m pharmacological activities like, anti- high. Leaves are opposite, margins allergic, cardiovascular, nephroprotective, undulate. Flowers: numerous, stiffly antiparasitic, hypoglyceamic, analgesic deflected against the pubescent rachis in and antipyretic. Many traditional uses are elongate terminal spike, 20-30cm. long. also reported like antiperiodic,purgative Seeds are oblong-ovoid [1]. and laxative, in various types of gastric disorders and in body pain which are being studied till today and further research has to be done. Achyranthes aspera L., locally known as “Telenge or ambulale” is one of the traditionally used anti-fertility plants in the indigenous health care delivery system of Ethiopia. It is a stiff erect perennial herb of 1–3 feet with simple elliptic leaves. The extracts of leaves, roots, and seeds of the plant have been used for control of fertility, in placental retention, and in postpartum bleeding. The preliminary study on leaves extract of the plant had shown some antifertility effect. The present study was Fig. 1. Archyranthes aspera L. leaves investigated the effect of methanolic leaves extract on fetal abortion, uterine and Plant Achyranthes aspera L [2] pituitary weights, gonadal horomones, Achyranthes aspera is a common plant serum lipids and in female rats in attempt found throughout India this review focuses to further validate scientifically. The on the wide pharmacological activities of traditional claim a perennial stiff erect Achyranthes aspera L. Before the herb, 2.0 m high is growing up to 1000 m introduction of modern medicines, disease height. Stems are square, leaves elliptic treatment was entirely managed by herbal ovate or broadly rhombate, 5-22 cm long, CR Journals (Page 1–18) 2021. All Rights Reserved Page 2 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science & Innovation Volume 1 Issue 2 2.5 cm broad, and adpressed pubescent. addition of Achyranthes aspera would The inflorescences are 8 - 30 cm long, enhance the efficacy of any drug of plant with many single, white or red flowers, 3 - origin [3]. 7mm wide. Flowering time is in summer. The plant is widespread in the world as a Morphological Characters of weed, in Baluchistan, Ceylon, Tropical Achyranthes Aspera L Asia, Africa, Australia and America. In the Achyranthes aspera L locally is one of the northern part of India it is known as a most important traditionally used medicinal plant in different systems of antifertility plants in the indigenous health folk medicine. Achyranthes aspera L, a care delivery system of Ethiopia. It is a stiff erect herb, has been reported to stiff erect perennial herb of 1 to 3 feet with posse’s medicinal properties. simple elliptic leaves. The ex-tracts of leaves, roots, and seeds of the plant have According to World Health been used for control of fertility, in Organization, medicinal plants are the placental retention, and in postpartum best source to obtain a variety of newer bleeding. The preliminary study on leaves herbal drugs. About 80% of individuals extract of the plant had shown some from developed countries use traditional antifertility effect. Flowering time of this medicine, which has compounds derived plant is in summer. The stems are square, from medicinal plants. Therefore, such leaves elliptic ovate or broadly rhombate. plants should be investigated to better The inflorescences are 8 - 30 cm long, understand their properties, safety and with many single, white or red flowers,3 - efficacy. The use of plant extracts and 7mm wide .The plants is widespread in the phytochemicals, both with known world as a weed, in Baluchistan, Ceylon, antimicrobial properties, can be of great Tropical Asia, Africa, Australia and significance in therapeutic treatments. In America. In the northern part of India it is the last few years, a number of studies known as a medicinal plant in different have been conducted in different countries systems of folk medicine [4]. to prove such efficiency. Many plants have been used because of their antimicrobial Traditional Uses traits, which are chiefly due to synthesized Traditionally, the plant is used in asthma during secondary metabolism of the plant. and cough. It is pungent, antiphlegmatic, antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative and Achyranthes aspera L. (Family laxative, useful in oedema, dropsy and Amaranthaceae) is a common plant of the piles, boils and eruptions of skin etc. study area abundantly found in wastelands. Crushed plant is boiled in water and is It is known as “Prickly chaff flower” in used in pneumonia. Infusion of the root is English and “Chirchita”, “Onga”, a mild astringent in bowel complaints. The “Latjeera” or “Apamarga” in local flowering spikes or seeds, ground and language and dialects. The plant is highly made into a paste with water, are used as esteemed by traditional healers and used in external application for bites of poisonous treatment of asthma, bleeding, in snakes and reptiles, used in night blindness facilitating delivery, boils, cold, cough, and cutaneous diseases. For snake bites the colic, debility, dropsy, dog bite, dysentery, ground root is given with water until the ear complications, headache, leucoderma, patient vomits and regains consciousness. pneumonia, renal complications, scorpion Inhaling the fume of Achyranthes