Abstract

HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT EXTRACT OF RUMEX NEPALENSIS

Deepa Khatri, Sumit Bahadur Baruwal Chhetri, Prakash Poudel and Nirmala Jamarkattel*

ABSTRACT

Plants are an important source of novel pharmacologically active compounds. Ease of availability, least side effects and low cost make the herbal preparations the main key player of all available therapies, especially in rural areas. The aim of present study was to investigate in vitro α- amylase inhibition activity and in vivo hypoglycemic and analgesic activity of ethanolic root extract of Rumex nepalensis. In vivo hypoglycemic study was performed in normal and glucose loaded rats. Analgesic activity was determined by using hot plate method. Result revealed that R. nepalensis showed the dose dependent inhibition of α- amylase enzyme with IC50 value 912.22 μg/ml. R. nepalensis (200 mg/kg) showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood glucose level at 60 and 120 min in normal rats and in glucose loaded rats at 30 and 120 minutes. Analgesic activity of R. nepalensis was found in dose dependent manner and was quite comparable to standard drug diclofenac. The highest nociperception of thermal stimulus was exhibited at a higher dose (200 mg/kg) with 68.72% analgesic activity at 120 min. Diclofenac (50 mg/kg) and R. nepalensis (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) exhibit the significant increase in analgesic activity at 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. In conclusion, the ethanolic root extract of R. nepalensis showed potent in vitro α- amylase inhibitory activity and in vivo hypoglycemic and analgesic activity.

Keywords: Rumex nepalensis, ?- amylase, hypoglycemic, analgesic.