The three plants presented in this study are Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus viridis L. They belong to the Amaranthaceae family and are traditionally used as vermicides. Our aim was to investigate the anthelmintic activity of the three plants using earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). Methanol extracts of the three plants at different concentrations (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/ml) showed dose-dependent vermicidal activities. At concentrations of 80 and 100 mg/ml all three plant extracts caused paralysis (8.18, 5, 12.16, 5.75, 10.2, 7.8 min) and death (14.65, 9.12, 18.6, 8.5, 18.6, 12.7 min), respectively. Piperazine was used as a reference standard at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. Our study found that the three plants possess potent anthelmintic activity when compared to Piperazine
Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as "Mulluharivesoppu" in Kannada, is used in the Indian traditional system of medicine for the treatment of diabetes. The present study deals with the scientific evaluation of alpha amylase and the antioxidant potential of methanol extract of A. spinosus (MEAS). The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro alpha-amylase enzyme inhibition by CNPG3 (2-chloro-4-nitrophenol α-d-maltotrioside) and in vivo antioxidant potential of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and total thiols (TT) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats of a methanolic extract of A. spinosus. Blood sugar was also determined in MEAS-treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats. MEAS showed significant inhibition of alpha-amylase activity and IC50 46.02 μg/ml. Oral administration of MEAS (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 15 days showed significant reduction in the elevated blood glucose, MDA and restores GSH, CAT and TT levels as compared with a diabetic control. The present study provides evidence that the methanolic extract of A. spinosus has potent alpha amylase, anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities.
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