Anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity of methanol extracts of three species of Amaranthus

Objective:To investigate the anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity of methanol extracts of leaves of Amaranthus caudatus,Amaranthus spinosus and Amaranthus viridis in normal and streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats.Methods:In this study,the anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity of methanol extracts of leaves of all three plants was evaluated by using normal and STZ induced diabetic rots at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o.daily for 21 days.Blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored at specific intervals,and different biochemical parameters,serum cholesterol,serum triglyceride,high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein were also assessed in the experimental animals.Histology of pancreas was performed.Results:It was found that all the three plants at 400 mg/kg dose showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity(P<0.01),while at 200 mg/kg dose less significant anti-diabetic activity(P<0.05) was observed.Concluslons: Methanol extracts of Amaranthus caudatus,Amaranlhus spinosus and Amaranthus viridis showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterolemic activity,which provides the scientific proof for their traditional claims.

Hepatoprotective activity of Musa paradisiaca on experimental animal models

Objective:To invesligale the hepatoprotective activity of stem of Musa paradisiaca(M.paradisiaca)in CCl_4 and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity models in rats.Methods:Hepatoprotective activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of stem of M.paradisiaca was demonstrated by using two experimentally induced hepatotoxicity models.Results:Administration of hepatotoxins(CCl_4 and paracetamol)showed significant biochemical and histological deteriorations in the liver of experimental animals.Pretreatment with alcoholic extract(500 mg/kg),more significantly and to a lesser extent the alcoholic extract(250 mg/kg)and aqueous extract(500 mg/kg),reduced the elevated levels of the serum enzymes like serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(SCOT),serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase(SGPT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP)and bilirubin levels and alcoholic and aqueous extracts reversed the hepatic damage towards the normal,which further evidenced the hepatoprotective activity of stem of M.paradisiaca.Conclusions:The alcoholic extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg,p.o.and aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg,p.o.of stem of M.paradisiaca have significant effect on the liver of CCl_4 and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity animal models.

Pain management in mice using methanol extracts of three plants belongs to family Amaranthaceae

Objective:To investigate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of Amaranthus viridis(A. viridis),Amaranthus caudatus(A.caudatus) and Amaranthus spinosus(A.spinosus).Methods:In this study,the analgesic activity of methanol extracts of all three plants at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg were investigated by acetic acid-induced writhings test,hot plate test and tail immersion test for mice.Results:It was found that all the three plants showed significant pain management effect(P【0.01) at a dose of 400 mg/kg,but showed a less significant effect at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the entire tests used for evaluation of analgesic activities(P【0.05).Conclusions:Methanol extracts of A.viridis,A.caudatus and A.spinosus show potent analgesic activities,and this study provides the scientific proof for their traditional claims.