ABSTRACT
Abstract Asparagus africanus Lam., Asparagaceae, is used traditionally as medicinal plant for treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders and for birth related applications. This study aimed to evaluate anti-implantation potential, screening for bioactive phytochemicals and to determine its toxicity. Thirty healthy rats were distributed into five groups (n = 6). Pregnant rats were orally administered vehicle and aqueous extract A. africanus at three different doses thrice daily for seven days. Misoprostol 300 µg/kg bw was used as positive control. All rats were laparotomized 24 h after the last dose and number of live fetuses, implantations and resorption sites were enumerated, and ovaries were harvested for histopathology. The phytochemical analysis was carried out using LC/MS. Acute toxicity was investigated, the animals were randomly grouped into five groups (n = 3); control, four different doses of aqueous extract A. africanus at a single dose treatment and rats were observed for 14 days. Prenatal study demonstrated that 300 mg/kg bw of extract and misoprostol were significantly increased the percentage of anti-implantation as compared to untreated rats. Histopathology of ovaries showed a dose dependent toxicity. LC/MS revealed the presence of steroidal saponins; asparasaponin II, sarsasapogenin, spirostans, and stigmasterol. The mean weight gain of rats treated with 2000 mg/kg bw of aqueous extract was significantly reduced (p = 0.032) compared to control group. In conclusion, the aqueous extract A. africanus has anti-implantation effect in female rats and is safe up to 2000 mg/kg bw. In addition, it contains some potential steroidal saponins, which could be used to explain its anti-implantation activity, however this finding needs further pharmacological studies to confirm the antifertility activities.
ABSTRACT
Antioxidant and gastroprotective activities of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves in rats have been reported. Sprague Dawley rats, 6 per group were used and rats in groups 1 to 6 were pretreated with (0.25% w/v) carboxymethyl cellulose (negative control, 5 ml/kg), 20 mg/kg omeprazole (positive control), (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) of aqueous leaf extracts (APLAE) and (250 and 500 mg/kg) of ethanol leaf extracts (APLEE) respectively. Animals were orally administered with 95% ethanol (5 ml/kg) 60 min after their pretreatments. Rats were sacrificed 1 h after treatment and gastric contents were collected to measure pH and mucous weight. Stomach was analyzed for gross and histological changes. Ulcer control group showed extensive lesions of gastric mucosal layer, whereas rats pretreated with omeprazole, 250 and 500 mg/kg of APLAE showed significant and dose dependent reduction in gastric lesions with increased pH and mucus content of stomach. Rats pretreated with 250 or 500 mg/kg of APLEE showed significantly better inhibition of gastric mucosal lesions. Further, the in vitro antioxidant studies using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed that ethanol extracts have superior free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value = 10.9 than aqueous extracts with IC50 value = 24.65. Results of this study showed that pretreatment with ethonolic extract of A. paniculata ethanolic provided significant protection against gastric ulcer by regulating of pH, mucous production and antioxidant property.