Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Solvent Extracts of Tagetes erectus Linn (Asteraceae

Purpose: Traditionally, the leaves of Tagetes erectus L. are used in India for the alleviation of pain and inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatoryactivities of this plant material in an animal model.Methods: The chloroform, methanol and ether extracts of the leaves of Tagetes erectus L. (family: Asteraceae) were tested against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and carrageenan-induced pawoedema in rats in order to assess their antinoceciptive and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. The doses administered intraperitoneally (I.P.) ranged from 100 to 400 mg/kg body weight, andacetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and phenylbutazone were the reference standards for the antinoceciptive and anti-inflammatory tests, respectively.Results: The extracts showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties at doses between 200-400 mg/kg. They inhibited significantly (P < 0.005), in a dose-dependant manner, induced writhingreflexes in mice. The antinoceciptive effect was comparable to that of ASA which served as the reference standard. Similarly, the extracts significantly (

EVALUATION OF HEMATINIC ACTIVITY OF NAGA BHASMA IN PHENYLHYDRAZINE-INDUCED ANEMIA IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: Bhasmas are biologically produced nanoparticles prescribed with several other medicines of Ayurveda. Metal-based drugs are prepared by transmutation of base metals into noble ones along with the use of plant extracts meant to eradicate the toxic effects of metal. Naga bhasma (NB) is one of such metallic preparation used in various diseases such as diarrhea, spleen enlargement, and diabetes. The present study aims to test the hematinic activity of NB against phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anemia in rats. Methods: The experiment was carried on Wistar rats of either sex (150–200 g). Anemia was induced by an oral administration of PHZ 40 mg/kg for a period of 2 days. Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured on the 3rd day. Rats with Hb &lt;11 g/dl were selected for the study. The animals were divided into six groups containing six animals each. Group I served as normal control, Group II as anemic control, and Group III was considered as standard that received ferrous sulfate (100 mg/kg), while Groups IV, V, and VI were treated with test NB 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 15 days. Hb was checked on the 0, 2nd, 7th, and 15th days. Results: Oral administration of PHZ decreased Hb from 14 g/dl at day 0 to 11 g/dl at day 2. NB induced a significant increase in Hb concentration to 13 at the dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. after 48 h. Conclusion: PHZ decreased Hb rate inducing anemia. NB caused an increase in the Hb values in anemic rats. Thus, it can be concluded that NB exhibits significant hematinic activity in rats