Anticonvulsant activity and acute neurotoxic profile of Achyranthes aspera Linn.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Root powder of Achyranthes aspera Linn. (A. aspera) belongs to family Amaranthaceae is used in Indian traditional medicine for the management of epilepsy and its efficacy is widely acclaimed among the different rural communities. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed to establish the possible anticonvulsant effect of A. aspera methanolic root extract using acute anticonvulsant models and to evaluate the acute toxicity and neurotoxic potential A. aspera extract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A. aspera methanolic extract was standardized with respect to betaine using HPTLC. The maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), picrotoxin and bicuculline induced seizure models were used to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of standardized A. aspera root extract. The GABA content in cortex and hippocampus of extract treated mice was evaluated using HPLC. Moreover, the animals were also evaluated for acute toxicity study and neurotoxicity test. RESULTS: A significant enhancement in the seizure threshold was observed by A. aspera extract (5 and 10mg/kg) treated mice in PTZ, picrotoxin and bicuculline models as compared to saline treated mice respectively, whereas the extract failed to show protection in MES induced seizures. Moreover, A. aspera treatment (5 and 10mg/kg) significantly enhances the GABA levels in hippocampus and cortex as compared to saline treated group. A. aspera root extract was devoid of any sign of acute toxicity as well as neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: A. aspera root extract exhibits significant anticonvulsant effect by facilitation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the brain.

Evaluation of nutritional and sub-acute toxicological study of plant based supplement of Achyranthes aspera.

The present study was conducted for the nutritional, microbiological and toxicological evaluation of test compound having main ingredient Achyranthes aspera. Nutritional value assessment, microbiological analysis and toxicological studies were conducted according to the standard reported methods which exhibited that A. aspera contains moisture 4.05%, proteins 20.54%, fats 0.903%, ash 20.25%, carbohydrates 54,26% and energy 294 Kcal. Vitamin profile was found to be B(1) 0.27mg/100g, B(2) 0.28mg/100g, B(3) 0.58mg/100g, B(6) 0.27mg/100g and B(9) 39µg/100g. The content of sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chloride and phosphorus was found to be 1119.67, 5385.23, 5446.08, 1343.6, 675880.73 and 1447.5mg/kg respectively and trace metals i.e. iron, copper, zinc, manganese and aluminum were detected as 283.05, 8.062, 48.37, 16.12 and 9.853 mg/kg respectively. The microbiological result indicated that the compound qualifies the international standards of microbial limit and was found free from Salmonella species. The toxicological study was conducted to find safe use of Achyranthes aspera compound in human as a nutritive supplement in blood disorders. The toxicity studies exhibited that the test compound has a good effect on general health as an increase in body weights of animals of test group was noticed as compared to that of control group. Blood parameters before and after the study were monitored which confirms our hypothesis by showing an increase in hemoglobin from 9.133 to 10.96, RBC count from 3.11 to 3.6, WBC count from 5.68 to 5.73 and platelets from 245 to 319.

Screening extracts of Achyranthes japonica and Rumex crispus for activity against various plant pathogenic fungi and control of powdery mildew.

Methanol extracts of fresh materials of 183 plants were screened for in vivo antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea, Corticium sasaki, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita and Erysiphe graminis f sp hordei. Among them, 33 plant extracts showed disease-control efficacy of more than 90% against at least one of six plant diseases. The methanol extracts of Achyranthes japonica (whole plant) and Rumex crispus (roots) at concentrations greater than 11 g fresh weight of plant tissue per litre of aqueous Tween 20 solution effectively controlled the development of barley powdery mildew caused by E graminis f sp hordei in an in vivo assay using plant seedlings. At a concentration of 300 g fresh weight of plant tissue per litre of Tween 20 solution, the two extracts were as efficient as the fungicide fenarimol (30 mg litre(-1)) and more active than the fungicide polyoxin B (100 and 33 mg litre(-1)) against Sphaerotheca fuliginea on cucumber plants in glasshouse trials.

Cardiac toxicity caused by Achyranthes aspera.

A 57-y-old man took over 1000 ml of a decoction made from Acyranthes aspera and was found unconscious in his bathroom. Hypotension and bradycardia were noted. The patient recovered 4 d later after dopamine and supportive care. There was no further cardiac abnormalities noted in serial cardiac examinations. We suggest that Achyranthes aspera causes a dose-related transient cardiovascular toxicity.