Background: The study was designed to investigate the qualitative phytochemical constituents and evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-diarrhoeal activities of methanol (MHAL) and ethyl acetate (EAHAL) extract of Hemigraphis alternata leaves in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Qualitative phytochemical constituents of MHAL and EAHAL were determined by different tests such as Molisch's test, Fehling test, Mayer's test, Frothing test, FeCl 3 test, Alkali test, Salkowski's test, Keller-killiani test and CuSO 4 test. In addition, Xylene induced-ear edema test and Cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation test had been performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, Formalin-induced paw licking test, Acetic acid-induced writhing tests and Castor oil induced antidiarrheal test had been performed to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-diarrhoeal activities respectively. Results: These crude extracts were figured the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, triterpenoids, fat and fixed oils. No mortality, behavioral changes or sign of any toxicity were observed up to the dose as high as 4000 mg/kg in mice. During anti-inflammatory test, MHAL 400 mg/kg and EAHAL 200 mg/kg & 400 mg/kg were significantly reduced ear weight differences and granuloma formation in mice. Highest percentage inhibition was offered by EAHAL 400 mg/kg dose (35.15 ± 11.78% and 34.76 ± 11.30%) in both anti-inflammatory tests respectively. In anti-nociceptive experiments, all extracts were significantly reduced paw licking and abdominal writhing of mice. Highest percentage inhibition was offered by EAHAL 400 mg/kg dose (88.21 ± 2.23% and 54.00 ± 2.38%) in both anti-nociceptive tests respectively. In addition, both extracts were showed significant inhibition of percentage of diarrhea in anti-diarrhoeal models except EAHAL 200 mg/kg dose and the apex percentage inhibition is offered by MHAL 400 mg/kg dose (67.73 ± 5.77%). Conclusion: These results confirm that the leaves extract of Hemigraphis alternata are nontoxic and may provide a source of plant compounds with anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-diarrhoeal activities.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate and compare antidiabetic, analgesic, and cytotoxic properties of Lal shak (Amaranthus gangeticus L.) and Chanchi shak (Alternanthera sessilis L.). We carried out this work to explore the medicinal uses of very common and cheap leafy plant vegetables among the people of all classes. Methods: The antidiabetic activity was evaluated and compared by studying the effect of ethanolic extract of A. gangeticus (EEAG) and ethanolic extract of A. sessilis (EEAS) against blood glucose level of alloxan-induced diabetic mice in every 6 h for 24 h. To evaluate and compare analgesic and cytotoxic activity, different tests such as acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test, and brine shrimp lethality bioassay test had been performed. Results: The mice were treated with both plants extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight in case of antidiabetic activity test. Blood glucose level was examined and found that there was a significant reduction of blood glucose level with EEAG (p<0.05) and EEAS (p<0.001) in comparison with their respective diabetic control group. Although both plant extracts reduced the blood glucose level, the glucose reducing effect was higher in EEAS. Both the plants showed significant (p<0.05) peripheral analgesic activity in treated mice but no significant central analgesic activity. EEAG showed higher peripheral analgesic activity than EEAS. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, both the plants showed higher LC50 value thus cytotoxicity occurs at very higher dose and safe to administer. Conclusion: In this study, both the plants showed sufficient antidiabetic property and higher LC50 value, thus administration of leafy vegetable Lal shak and Chanchi shak may be useful for diabetic people. Chanchi shak may be more helpful for diabetic people than Lal shak.

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