Acute toxicity study and phytochemical screening of Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood

Background: Conventionally, Ayurvedic herbs are being used to treat various diseases. These medicinal compounds have to be evaluated for their safety and presence of therapeutic compounds for the clinical application. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to obtain the scientific knowledge on the safety profile as well as to assess the presence of pharmacologically active principles in the Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood. Materials and methods: The aqueous extract of P. marsupium heartwood was subjected to an acute toxicity in albino rats. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6) and fed with graded doses (1000, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg p.o.) of plant extract, respectively, whereas control group had received 2 ml distilled water orally. Animals were continuously observed for the toxicological symptoms for 2 h and intermittently for 48 h and latter once in a day for 14 days. The body weight of the animals was recorded. In addition, the qualitative phytochemical investigations were conducted to identify the presence of active principles. Results: The animals fed with aqueous extract of P. marsupium heartwood did not exhibit any toxic symptoms and the mortality. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent change in the weight gain observed in comparison to the control group. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the plant extract was considered as >5000 mg/kg. Furthermore, the phytochemical investigations of the plant extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, triterpenoids, saponins, tannins and phenols. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of P. marsupium heartwood was found to be safe and well tolerated even at a large dose of 5000 mg/kg. Furthermore, the plant extract found to possess pharmacologically active principles having wide pharmacological spectrum. Hence, it can be preferred in various therapeutic conditions.

Anthelmintic activity of seaweed extract of Padina boergesenii and Padina tetrastromatica acute subacute level in naturally infected sheep

Background: Seaweeds have showed a broad range of biological activities such as antiviral, cardiovascular, autoimmune diseases, antineoplastic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal activities. Aims and Objectives: This study was done to assess capability of Padina boergesenii and Padina tetrastromatica extract for anthelmintic activity in sheep agonized with clinical parasitic gastroenteritis in different concentrations and compared it against the standard drug albendazole using natural acute/subacute parasitic gastroenteritis due primarily to mixed nematode species. Materials and Methods: The anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of seaweed of P. boergesenii was studied in sheep with natural acute/subacute parasitic gastroenteritis due primarily to mixed nematode species. Graded doses of the extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, p.o for 5 consecutive days) significantly reduced fecal egg counts in infected animals. The percentage reduction (96.1%) by 300 mg/kg of the extract was comparable to that of 5 mg/kg of albendazole (94.3%). Results: The administration of the extract resulted in improved hemoglobin and leukocytosis values in worm infected sheep. Conclusion: The current study evidence that the anthelmintic activity of the ethanolic extract of seaweed of P. boergesenii and P. tetrastromatica has promising anthelmintic activity against strongyle, Strongyloides papillosus, and Taenia ovis. However, the anthelmintic activity of P. boergesenii was superior to P. tetrastromatica.