Haematological activity of Cucurbita maxima Linn. Pulp in Phenylhydrazine Induced Anaemic Rats.

 

Manokaran S.*, Saravanan V.S., Kulanthavel T.M. and Kumarrapan C.T.

 

The Erode College of Pharmacy, Erode. India.

 

ABSTRACT:

The hydro-alcoholic extract of Cucurbita maxima pulp shows the haematological activity against phenyl hydrazine induced anaemic rat. The hydro alcoholic extract of 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg are shown significant action against the anaemia, when compared to the 10 mg/kg of phenylhydrazine induced group after 4 weeks of treatment. The parameters determined are haemaglobulin content, RBC, WBC.

 

KEYWORDS: Haematinic activity, Cucurbita maxima pulp, Phenylhydrazine, Haematological parameters

 

INTRODUCTION:

The plant kingdom still holds many species of many substances of medicinal value, which have yet to be discovered. Large numbers of plants are constantly being screened for their possible pharmacological value particularly for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, neurological activities, hypertensive, and hypoglycemic, anti-fertility, cytotoxic, laxative and anti-parkinsonism properties. But due to advancement in the pharmacological studies now a day, the plant drug find their way into medicines as purified substances rather than in the time of genetical preparation. Cucurbita maxima is a common vegetable (Pumpkin, Red gourd) widely distributed in India. The seeds were taenicide and the oil was prescribed as nervetonic­1. The seeds as diuretic and tonic2. Pumpkin powder is used as anti-diabetic3.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

PLANT MATERIAL:

The pulp of the Cucurbita maxima Linn fruit was collected and authentified by botanical survey of India, Coimbatore. Pulp was separated and dried in shade.

 

PREPARATION OF HYDRO-ALCHOLIC EXTRACT4:

The dried pulp was extracted with 1:1 ethanol and water for 36 hrs. The extract was concentrated and stored in desiccator. The yield was 50 gms.

 

PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING:

TEST ANIMALS:

Normally healthy Wister strain rats of both sexes weighing of 150-200 mg/kg were used for the experiment. Animals are maintained under standard diet and water libitum. The experiment protocol has been approved by institutional animal ethics committee of The Erode College of Pharmacy.

 

INDUCTION OF ANEMIA5:

Anemia was induced in rats by oral administration of phenyl hydrazine at 10mg/kg for 8 days. The rats with hemoglobin concentration lower than 13g/dl were recruited for the study.

TREATMENT OF THE ANIMALS6:

The anemic rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each. The doses administered orally as follow.

Group I – received tween 20 (10 ml/kg) – negative control.

Group II - received HACM (150 mg/kg) –test group.

Group II - received HACM (300mg/kg) –test group.

 

ANALYSIS OF HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS:

The blood was collected before the induction of anemia and after the induction of anemia with phenylhydrazine by ocular puncture during 1, 2, 3 week of treatment. The RBC, WBC count and haemoglobulin content are estimated. The result are shown as below

 

RESULT:

The treatment with hydro-alcoholic extract of Cucurbita maxima pulp on doses of 150 mg/kg, 300mg/kg caused significant increases in RBC, WBC, haemoglobulin content when compared to toxic control.150 mg/kg gives more activity than 300mg/kg. The result are shown in (Figure no.1, 2, 3)

 

 

DISCUSSION:

Phenyl hydrazine is an agent which produces free radicals during metabolism. Free radicals are harmful agents which produce necrosis and affect the physiological functions of organs. Phenyl hydrazine also releasing lot of small quantities of different free radicals like benzene7, hydrogen peroxide8, super oxide9. This all are the secondary free radicals of phenyl hydrazine which is increasing the harm ness of the organ. The pulp contains iron, folic acid, zinc and β- carotene10. Iron and folic acid are the compound for haematopoiesis. β-carotene which is a carotinoid has the character of scavenging free radical11. Zinc is an element used for wound healing12. Probably the phenyl hydrazine induced and released free radicals are scavenged by the β-carotene and the folic acid and iron increase the haematopoiesis.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Kirtikar KR, Basu BD., Indian Medicinal Plants. Lalit Mohon Basu, Allahabad, 1933; 2nd ed.  pp. 1155

2.        Chopra RN, Chopra IC, Handa KL and Kapur LD., Chopra’s Indigenous Drugs of IndiaU. N. Dhar & Sons Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta, 1958; 2nd ed. pp. 503.

3.        Zhangzi; Effect of Sepertina Pumpkin Powder on Alloxan Induced Diabetes Mellitus Rabbits. Arroc. 1998; 52-56.

4.        Sukhdev Swami Handa., 2008. Extraction Technologiesfor Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. International Centre for Science and High Technology, Padriciano 99, Italy, P. 23-24.

5.        Yeshoda KM; Phenyl Hydrazine Anaemia in Rats. Curr.Sci., 1942, 360-363.

6.        Diallo A, Gbeassor M., Effect of Tectona grandis on Phenyl Hydrazine Induced Anemia in Rats. Fitoterapia, 2008, 332-336.

7.        Beavan GH, White. JC, Oxidation of Phenyl Hydrazine in the Presence of Oxyhaemoglobin and the origin of Heinz bodies in Erythrocytes. Nature, 1984, 389-397.

8.        Cohen G, Hochstein., Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide in Erythrocytes by    Haemolytic Agent. Biochemistry, 1964, 895-900.

9.        Goldberg B, Stern., The Generation of Oxygen by the Interaction of the Haemolytic Agent Phenyl Hydrazine with Human Haemoglobin. J. Biol.Chem., 1975, 2401-2403.

10.     Joshi SC., 2000. Medicinal Plants, Oxford and IBN publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. P.159-160.

11.     Sarada SKS, Dipti., Anti-oxidant Effect of β- Carotene on Hypoxia Induced Oxidative Stress in Albino Rats. J. Ethano pharmacology, 2002, 149-153.

12.     Harold H, Standstead., Zinc and Wound Healing. A.J.Clin.Nutri, 1970, 514-519.

 

Received on 06.07.2010

Accepted on 07.07.2010        

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy  and Phytochemistry. 2(5): Sept.-Oct. 2010, 395-396