Phytochemicals protect against oxidative stress which in turn helps in maintaining the balance between oxidants and antioxidants. In recent times natural antioxidants are gaining considerable interest among nutritionists, food manufacturers, and consumers because of their perceived safety, potential therapeutic value, and long shelf life. Plant foods are known to protect against degenerative diseases and ageing due to their antioxidant activity (AOA) attributed to their high polyphenolic content (PC). Data on AOA and PC of Indian plant foods is scanty. Therefore we have determined the antioxidant activity in 107 commonly consumed Indian plant foods and assessed their relation to their PC. Antioxidant activity is presented as the range of values for each of the food groups. The foods studied had good amounts of PC and AOA although they belonged to different food groups. Interestingly, significant correlation was observed between AOA (DPPH and FRAP) and PC in most of the foods, corroborating the literature that polyphenols are potent antioxidants and that they may be important contributors to the AOA of the plant foods. We have also observed that common domestic methods of processing may not affect the PC and AOA of the foods studied in general. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first results of the kind in commonly consumed Indian plant foods.
The objectives of present work focuses to check the acute and sub acute toxicity studies for the Achyranthes aspera L methanol extract as per OECD guideline in Swiss mice. The dose of 100, 200, 250 gm/kg body weight methanol extract by administering drug intraperitoneally and recorded the growth, body weight, organ weight, general symptoms, morphological and physiological behavior, mortality. These parameters on various organs system in mice were studied. It was considered necessary to assess its potential health hazard in man and to find the safe and effective dose. The observations of changes in body weight, food and water intake as well as cage side observations were reported. There was no abnormality observed in all groups. The whole plant powder methanol extract of Achyranthes Aspera L were found to be nontoxic.
Objectives:In India control of fertility is based on the folk use of numerous Indian Traditional Plants that has been practiced for contraception from many years. Present investigation aims that, to evaluate the contraceptive potential of Achyranthes aspera leaves MeOH extract in male albino mice and has shown promising results of antispermatogenic, antiandrogenic and hypolipidaemic activities.
Materials & Methods:MeOH extract of A. aspera leaves at the doses of 25 mg and 50 mg/100 gm body weight was administered orally for 30 days to adult male albino mice. On day 31st, the rats were sacrificed and the testis were removed and weighed for gravimetrical analysis. Organs were processed for biochemical estimation, histological evaluation and histomorphometry for testicular analysis.Results: Treatment with A. aspera leaves extract resulted in decrease the weight of testis 0.925±0.015 significantly (P<0.05). Morphometric analysis like diameter of testis 2554.22±18.545 seminiferous tubules 247.074±8.051 and Leydig cells 7.842±0.248 were decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 50mg/100gm body weight when compare to control. Spermatogenic elements like, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids in the testis were reduced significantly (P<0.05) as well as Leydig cells count in testis when compared to control. Biochemical analysis resulted as, protein, glycogen, and cholesterol content were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in testis of extracts treated mice, whereas alkaline phosphatase increased and acid phosphatase decreased when compared with that of control.
Conclusion:MeOH extract of A. aspera leaves arrest the spermatogenesis and inhibited testicular function in male mice without side effects to act as potential contraceptive.
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