Haematinic Potential of Jussiaea repens L – A Search for Antianaemic Herb
Arnab Das
Department of Physiology, Hooghly Mohsin College, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
Subhasish Ghosal
Department of Physiology, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Indrani Chakraborty
Department of Physiology, Krishnanagar Govt. College, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Nirmal Pradhan *
Department of Physiology, Hooghly Mohsin College, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Anaemia is a common nutritional disorder. Different harmful synthetic drugs are used to combat it. So herbal remediation is in demand.
Aims: In this study a common medicinal herb Jussiaea repens (JR) was used. It is traditionally used to prevent diabetes, diuretics, fever, cough etc. But no report yet is available on anaemia prevention.
Methodology: 30 adult male albino rats were grouped as control (n=6), 2,4-DNPH induced anaemia (2 mg/100 gm body weight/day i.p.,n=18) and JR treatment (20 mg/100 gm body weight/day orally, n=6). After 7 days, 6 anaemic animals were killed, 6 kept as DNPH withdrawal and other 6 as JR supplement followed by 2,4-DNPH withdrawal. All animals were maintained till 21st day of treatment.
Results: Body growth rate was significantly (P<0.001) decreased in 2,4-DNPH induced anaemic group which was partially recovered in withdrawal and JR supplement. Liver weight was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in anaemic group than control but was significantly increased (P<0.01) in JR treatment. Spleen weight was significantly increased (P<0.05) in anaemic group but significantly decreased (P<0.05) in JR supplement and treatment. Significant decrease (P<0.05) in adrenal weight was found after 2,4-DNPH withdrawal, where other organs remain unchanged. The anaemic group showed insignificant reduction in total erythrocyte count and significant reduction (P<0.05) in haemoglobin concentration than control and were significantly recovered (P<0.05) after JR supplementation and treatment. PCV was significantly higher in withdrawal (P<0.05) and JR treatment (P<0.01) than anaemic group, where MCHC was significantly higher (P<0.01) only in JR treatment. But no remarkable change observed in MCH and total leukocyte count. Free haemoglobin in plasma showed significant rise (P<0.005) in anaemic group, but was significantly reduced alike MCV after 2,4-DNPH withdrawal, JR supplementation and treatment, which supported higher osmotic fragility of RBC in anaemic group. SEM observation of erythrocyte morphology also supported it.
Conclusion: So, crude ethanolic extract of JR can prevent anaemia and can be used further as potent antianaemic drug.
Keywords: Jussiaea repens, haematinic, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, anaemia, haemoglobin, osmotic fragility.