PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF RHIZOMES OF ACORUS CALAMUS FOR ANALGESIC ACTIVITY Short Communication (original) (raw)
Related papers
Acorus calamus ,which is commonly known as Sweet flag is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of various disease and disorders. The active constituents such as phenyl propanoids, sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes as well as xanthone glycosides, flavones, lignans, steroids obtained from the plant has been proved to show various pharmacological activites such as insecticidal, larvicidal, antibacterial, mutagenic, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, anticonvulsant, neuroleptic, smooth muscle relaxant and smooth muscle stimulant activity.Further exploration for the isolation of the bioactive constituents has to be done in order to reveal its potential application in the field of medicinal research.This review is done to reveal the scope and application of Acorus calamus in the pharmaceutical and agricultural field to bring out more drugs and natural products out of it.
CURRENT STATUS ON BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ACORUS CALAMUS -A REVIEW Review Article
International journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014
The review emphasis on the current status of the researches in Acorus calamus highlighting their number of useful biological activities. The Acorus calamus most extensively investigated phytochemically and pharmacologically. Number of bioactive constituents was identified and characterized from the leaves and rhizomes and their essential oils. Major chemical constituents identified are alpha and beta asarones which is responsible for therapeutic and medicinal properties of Acorus species. Several, recently published reports have revealed many newer useful bioactivities of leaves and rhizome extracts, essential oils and isolated chemical constituents such as anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, anti-adipogenic, antimicrobial, fungicidal, insulin sensitizing/antidiabetic, neuroprotective, wound healing, mitogenic, insecticidal, anthelmintic, allelopathic, antiepileptic, antispasmodic activities and inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. This article highlights the various biological activities studied in A. calamus.
Evaluation of Bioactive Components in Acorus Calamus
International Research Journal Of Pharmacy
Medicinal plants possess phytochemicals which are the main sources of medicinal drugs having curative nature and maintain vitality of individual without toxicity. The tuber part of Acorus calamus was collected, powdered and extracted with ethyl acetate showed an average extractive value about 200 ml. Qualitative phytochemical analysis were done and showed positive result for sterols and tannins. Quantitative estimation of tannin had relatively showed higher optical density value 0.565 than sterol 0.045 while determined through standard methods. It was confirmed that tannin, a phenolic content might be the active principle since the plant possess it as higher content. Hence, it was concluded that the plants would exploit as novel drug which drives the future that maintained the health and vitality of disease affected individual.
In Vitro Anticholinergic and Antihistaminic Activities of Acorus Calamus Linn. Leaves Extracts
African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2012
The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of hexane, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus leaves (ACHE, ACAE, ACME and ACAQE) on cholinergic and histaminic system using isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and guinea pig ileum. A dose dependent potentiation of Ach response (anticholinesterase like effect) was found with ACAE and ACME at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, but at higher dose of ACAE, ACME, ACAQE and ACHE (5, 20 mg/ml) inhibit the Ach response (antinicotinic effect). These results revealed biphasic effect of Acorus calamus leaves extracts on acetylcholine induced contractile response in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle preparation (i.e. potentiation effect at lower dose and inhibitory effect at higher dose). Studies on isolated guinea pig ileum demonstrated antihistaminic effect in a dose dependent manner (100-1000 µg/ml) with ACAE, ACME and ACAQE. In addition, the dose dependent inhibition of Ach response (antimuscarinic effect) was observed with ACAE and ACME. In conclusion, Acorus calamus leaves extracts exerts antinicotinic, anticholinesterase like activities in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and antihistaminic, antimuscarinic effect in guinea pig ileum. It has been suggested that these observed activities can be further studied for therapeutic potential of Acorus calamus leaves in the treatment of cognitive disorders and asthma.
In Vitro Anticholinergic and Antihistaminic Activities of Acorus Calamus Linn. Leaves Extracts
African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2013
The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of hexane, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus leaves (ACHE, ACAE, ACME and ACAQE) on cholinergic and histaminic system using isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and guinea pig ileum. A dose dependent potentiation of Ach response (anticholinesterase like effect) was found with ACAE and ACME at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, but at higher dose of ACAE, ACME, ACAQE and ACHE (5, 20 mg/ml) inhibit the Ach response (antinicotinic effect). These results revealed biphasic effect of Acorus calamus leaves extracts on acetylcholine induced contractile response in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle preparation (i.e. potentiation effect at lower dose and inhibitory effect at higher dose). Studies on isolated guinea pig ileum demonstrated antihistaminic effect in a dose dependent manner (100-1000 mu g/ml) with ACAE, ACME and ACAQE. In addition, the dose dependent inhibition of Ach response (antimuscarinic effect) was observed with ACAE and ACME. In conclusion, Acorus calamus leaves extracts exerts antinicotinic, anticholinesterase like activities in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and antihistaminic, antimuscarinic effect in guinea pig ileum. It has been suggested that these observed activities can be further studied for therapeutic potential of Acorus calamus leaves in the treatment of cognitive disorders and asthma.
Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology, 2016
Background: The rhizomes of a herb Acorus calamus Linn. (Acoraceae) have been widely used as a traditional medicine to cure intestinal-helminthic infections in India and South Africa. Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo anthelmintic activity of a standardized methanolic extract obtained from the rhizomes A. calamus in a rodent model. Materials and Methods: A methanolic extract obtained from rhizomes of A. calamus was characterized for active principle using nuclear magnetic resonance 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, mass and infrared spectroscopy. The amount of active principle in rhizome isolated active fraction of plant was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Later, the standardized rhizome extract of plant and its active principle were tested for in vivo anthelmintic efficacy against experimentally induced Hymenolepis diminuta, a zoonotic cestode, infections in rats. Results: The study revealed that β-asarone is the active principle of plant. The HPLC analysis of local variety of A. calamus revealed that active fraction contains 83.54% (w/w) of β-asarone. The in vivo study revealed that treatment of H. diminuta infected rats by a single 800 mg/kg dose of rhizome extract for 5 days results into 62.30% reduction in eggs per gram of feces counts and 83.25% reduction in worm counts of animals. These findings compared well with the efficacy of a reference drug, praziquantel. The active principle β-asarone showed slightly better anthelmintic effects than crude extract. In acute toxicity assay, a single oral 2000 mg/kg dose of extract did not reveal any signs of toxicity or mortality in mice, and the LD50 of the extract was noted to be >2000 mg/kg. Conclusion: Taken together, the results of this study indicate that rhizomes of A. calamus bear significant dose-dependent effects against intestinal helminths. Further, the Indian variety of A. calamus contains high β-asarone content. Therefore, there exists a great potential to develop some suitable anthelmintic herbal products from this plant.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011
Background: Acorus calamus (family: Araceae), is an indigenous plant, traditionally it is used as an ingredient of various cocktail preparations and for the management of severe inflammatory disorders in Indian system of medicine. Present study investigated the attenuating role of Acorus calamus plant extract in chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve induced peripheral neuropathy in rats. Methods: Hot plate, plantar, Randall Selitto, Von Frey Hair, pin prick, acetone drop, photoactometer and rota-rod tests were performed to assess degree of thermal, radiant, mechanical, chemical sensation, spontaneous motor activity and motor coordination changes respectively, at different time intervals i.e., day 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21. Tissue myeloperoxidase, superoxide anion and total calcium levels were determined after 21 st day to assess biochemical alterations. Histopathological evaluations were also performed. Hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus (HAE-AC, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered from the day of surgery for 14 days. Results: CCI of sciatic nerve significantly induced thermal, radiant, mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal, chemical, tactile allodynia, along with increase in the levels of superoxide anion, total calcium and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover significant histological changes were also observed. HAE-AC attenuated CCI induced development of painful behavioural, biochemical and histological changes in a dose dependent manner similar to that of pregabalin serving as positive control. Conclusions: Acorus calamus prevented CCI induced neuropathy which may be attributed to its multiple actions including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory actions.
Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Acalypha indica Linn
Pak. J. Pharm. Sci, 2010
Previous phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of Acalypha indica L. has indicated the presence of steroid, flavonoid and terpenoid types of compounds. Since these compounds are of pharmacological interest, coupled with the use of this plant in traditional medicine, prompted us to check A. indica L. for possible analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The methanolic extract of A. indica L. showed statistically significant (P<0.001) analgesic activity in mice in a dose-dependent manner. A sustained and significant (P<0.001) inhibition of carrageenan-induced inflammation of rat paw was observed with 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight. The methanolic extract of A. indica L. also demonstrated antiinflammatory effect in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum inhibition by the extract was observed at 250 mg/kg body weight after three hours of ingestion, which was comparable to that of the standard drug phenylbutazone at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine.
Establishment of Monograph of Acorus Calamus Linn. Rhizomes
Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics, 2012
Acorus calamus Linn. (Araceae) is a semi-aquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes, arching tapered reed-like leaves and minute yellow-green flowers growing wild in wet areas like edges of streams and around ponds & lakes, in ditches and seeps and also cultivated. It is widely distributed throughout India and Ceylon, ascending the Himalayas up to 6600 feet in Sikkim, plentiful in the marshy tracts of Kashmir, Sirmoor, M anipur and Naga Hills. The rhizomes are considered to possess anti-spasmodic, carminative and anthelmintic, aromatic, expectorant, nervine, sedative, stimulant and nauseating properties. M edicinally used for the treatment of epilepsy, mental ailments, chronic diarrhea, dysentery, bronchial catarrh, intermittent fevers and glandular and abdominal tumors. The current study was therefore carried out to identify requisite pharmacognostical details i.e. organoleptic, microscopical, fluorescence analysis, quantitative microscopy and physical constants such as ash value and extractive values of the fruit. The extacts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The study revealed specific indices for the particular crude drug which will be useful in identification, control on adulterations of the crude drug and preparation of a monograph of the drug.