International Journal of Research in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics

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1 7 International Journal of Research in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics Available online at Print ISSN: 78 8 Online ISSN: 78-5 IJRPP Volume Issue 1 13 Research article Pharmacological Evaluation of Laxative effect of Ageratum conyzoides L. on experimental albino rats * 1 Sathyanathan.V, 1 Satish Gunda, Eswar kumar.a, 3 Shubhrajit Mantry, 3 L.R.Thilothama. * 1 Department of Pharmacy, Arvindaksha Educational Society s Group of Institutions, Balemla (V), Suryapet, A.P. Palamur University, Mahabubnagar, A.P., India. 3 Kottam Institute of Pharmacy, Itikyala Mandal, Mahabubnagar (Dist), A.P. India. ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the laxative effect of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Ageratum conyzoides L.() on experimental albino rats. The laxative effect was expressed as the faecal output and faecal count/frequency at 8h and 1h. at the doses of mg/kg (P<.5) and mg/kg (P<.1), significantly increased the faecal output in albino rats. The results obtained establish the efficacy and substantiate the folklore claim as a laxative agent. Further studies are needed to completely understand the mechanism of laxative effect of Ageratum conyzoides L. Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides L., Laxative activity, Traditional medicine, Agar-agar, Faecal output. INTRODUCTION Ageratum conyzoides Linn. (Family: Asteraceae) is common in disturbed habitats along roadsides and trails, forest margins and openings, clearings, grasslands, and cultivated areas from sea-level to mountain. Introduced as an ornamental plant from the Americas, it is now widely cultivated and is present throughout the South Pacific and other warm countries. The plant is highly embryotoxic to Dysderus flacidis and acts on embryonic development at an early stage; tannin extracts of goatweed showed insecticidal activity against flour beetles. Essential oils extracted have antibiotic properties. Antinematocidal, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, smooth muscle relaxant, haemostatic, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial and hypothermic activities have been recorded. This plant was * Corresponding author: Sathyanathan.V address: vsathyanathan@yahoo.com traditionally used to treat constipation, infective hepatitis, eczema, epilepsy, fresh wounds, dizziness, diarrhoea, dysentery, sore eyes, fever, headaches, intestinal worms, filariasis, vomiting and nausea, wounds and cuts. In Tonga, the juice from leaves is applied to infected wounds. Juice from moist leaves is squeezed into sore eyes. Sometimes leaves are directly applied to aid healing of wounds [1-7]. Therefore, the present study was performed to verify the laxative effect of Ageratum conyzoides L. on experimental albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant collection The Plant material of Ageratum conyzoides L. used for investigation was collected from Tirunelveli District, in the Month of August 11. The plant was

2 75 V.Sathyanathan et al / Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-(1) 13 [7-78] authenticated by Dr.V.Chelladurai, Research Officer Botany. C.C.R.A.S., Govt. of India. The voucher specimen of the plant was deposited at the college for further reference. Preparation of extracts Whole plant was dried in shade and made to dry powder. It was then passed through the mesh sieve. A weighed quantity of the powder was subjected to continuous hot extraction in Soxhlet Apparatus. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure using rotary evaporator until all the solvent has been removed to give an extract sample. Percentage yield of ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. was found to be 17.5 % w/w. Preliminary phytochemical screening The phytochemical examination of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Ageratum conyzoides L. was performed by the standard methods [8]. Animals used Albino wistar rats (15-g) of either sex were obtained and maintained in a well-ventilated room with 1:1 hour light/dark cycle in polypropylene cages. The animals were fed with standard pellet feed (Hindustan Lever Limited., Bangalore) and water RESULTS Phytochemical Screening was given ad libitum. Ethical committee clearance was obtained from IAEC (Institutional Animal Ethics Committee) of CPCSEA. Laxative activity The test was performed according to methods in [9] and [1] on rats of either sex. Rats fasted for 18 h were divided into four groups of six animals each. Group I received 5 ml/kg, normal saline orally Group II received agar-agar (3 mg/ kg, p.o.) in saline Group III and IV received mg/kg and mg/kg p.o. respectively. Immediately after dosing, the animals were separately placed in cages suitable for collection of faeces. After 8h of drug administration, the faeces were collected and weighed. Thereafter, food and water were given to all rats and faecal outputs were again weighed after a period of 1 h. Statistical analysis The data were expressed as mean ± standard error mean (S.E.M).The Significance of differences among the groups was assessed using one way ANOVA. The test was followed by Dunnet s test P values less than.5 were considered as significance. Table 1: Phytochemical screening of Ageratum conyzoides L. S. No Chemical compounds Inference 1 Flavonoids + Terpenoids + 3 Carbohydrates + Tannins + 5 Phenol + Gum + 7 Mucilage + 8 Saponins - 9 Steroids - + = Present; - = Absent The results of preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract of whole plant of Ageratum conyzoides L. revealed that presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenols, gum and mucilage and absence of saponins and steroids (Table 1).

3 7 V.Sathyanathan et al / Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-(1) 13 [7-78] Laxative activity Table : Laxative effect in terms of Faecal output (gms) of ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. in rats I II III IV Treatment / Dose (mg/kg)s Control (Saline 5ml/kg p.o.) Agar-agar (3 mg/ kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) Faecal output (gms) 8h 8-1h **.35.7** 3.97.*.31.1**.7.3** ** **P<.1; *P<.5, as compared to positive control group. Graph 1- Faecal output -8h Faecal output Control (Saline 5ml/kg p.o.) Agar agar (3 mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) Control (Saline 5ml/kg p.o.) Agar agar (3 mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) Faecal output Graph - Faecal output 8-1h 8 Agar-agar 3 mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg Agar-agar 3 mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg **P<.1; *P<.5, as compared to positive control group.

4 77 V.Sathyanathan et al / Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-(1) 13 [7-78] Table 3: Laxative effect in terms Faecal count/frequency of ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. in rats I II III IV Treatment / Dose (mg/kg)s Control (Saline 5ml/kg p.o.) Agar-agar (3 mg/ kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) ( mg/kg p.o.) Faecal Frequency/Faecal Count 8h 8-1h.5±..833± ±.38* 8.833±.85* 3.833±.8* 5.833±.15*.333±.38* 5.833±.8* *P<.5 as compared to positive control group. faecal count Graph 3 - Faecal count in -8h agar-agar 3 mg/kg eeac mg/kg eeac mg/kg agar-agar 3 mg/kg eeac mg/kg eeac mg/kg Faecal count Graph - Faecal count in 8-1h 1 8 Agar-agar 3 mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg Agar-agar 3 mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg *P<.5 as compared to positive control group. In the evaluation of laxative activity, the ethanolic extract was found to produce significant dose dependent activity at both the tested level of doses ( mg/kg and mg/kg, p.o.). The effect was comparable to that of the standard tested at mg/kg, p.o. dose level and the results are presented in Table, Table 3 and Graph 1,, 3 and.

5 78 V.Sathyanathan et al / Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-(1) 13 [7-78] DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION A constipation cause of two types, first one is obstructed defecation and another one is colonic slow transit (hypomotility). Constipation is a highly prevalent after chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects adult. Laxatives are widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of constipation. The may be increased the intestinal transit as compared with control group (Table-). In this study, increased intestinal transit possibly due to its cholinergic effect. Probably decreased the reabsorption of NaCl and water by increasing intestinal motility. Laxative properties of medicinal plants were found to be due to tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, sterols and/or terpenoids and reducing sugars [11-13]. The phytochemical analysis of revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenols, gum and mucilage. These constituents may mediate the laxative property of the. In conclusion, the present study has shown that Ageratum conyzoides L. is a potential therapeutic option in the effective management of constipation, thus justifying its widespread use by the local population for these purposes. Concerted efforts are being made to fully investigate the mechanisms involved in the pharmacological activities of Ageratum conyzoides L. and phytochemical studies are also in progress to isolate and characterize the active constituents of Ageratum conyzoides L. The isolated compound may serve as useful prototypes of laxative drugs of natural origin possessing the desired pharmacological activities while lacking certain untoward effects. REFERENCE [1] Cambie RC and Ash J. Fijian Medicinal Plants, CSIRO, Australia, 199, [] Aalbersberg WGL and Singh Y. Flavour and Fragrance Journal,, 1991, 117. [3] Gonzalez AG et al., Phytochemistry, 3 (), 1991, , [] Wiedenfeld H and Roder E. Planta Med, 57 (), 1991, [5] Zhao L, Chen WM and Fang QC. Planta Med, 57, 1991, 578. [] Sharma GP et al., Indian Drugs, 1, (1), 1978, 1-3. [7] Durodola JI. Planta Med, 3, 1977, [8] Harbone, J.P., Phytochemical Methods, A Guide to modern technique of plant analysis, (Chapmann and Hall, London), 1973, [9] Capasso F., Mascolo N., Autore G. and Romano V., Laxatives and the production of autocoids by rat colon, J. Pharm. Pharmacol, 13, 198, 7-9. [1] Sumanta M et al., Studies on diuretic and laxative activity of Acacia suma (Roxb) Barks IJRAP, 1(), 1, [11] Sood A. R., Bajpai A. and Dixit M., Pharmacological and biological studies on saponins, Indian J. Pharmacol, 17, 1985, [1] Brown, J.A. and Taylor, P., Muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonist. In: Hardman, J.G., Limbird, L.E., (Eds), Goodman and Gilman s the pharmacological Basis of therapeutics 1 th Edition, MacGraw Hill, New York,, [13] Pierce, N.F., Carpenter, C.C.J., Elliot, H.Z., and Greenough, W.B., Gastroenterology, 1971,, -3. *******************************