Acute toxicity, brine shrimp cytotoxicity anthelminitic and relaxant potentials of fruits of Rubus fruticosus Agg
Abstract
Rubus fruticosus is used in tribal medicine as anthelmintic and an antispasmodic. In the current work, we investigated the anthelmintic and antispasmodic activities of crode methanol extract of fruits of R. fruticosus on scientific grounds. Acute toxicity and brine shrimp cytotixicity activity of the extract were also performed.
Methods
Acute toxicity study of crude methanol extract of R. fruticosus was performed on mice. In vitro Brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay was performed on shrimp of Artemia salina. In vitro Anthelmintic activity was tested against Raillietina spiralis and Ascaridia galli. Relaxant activities were tested on spontaneous rabbits' jejunal preparations. Calcium chloride curves were constructed to elucidate possible mode of action of the extract.
conclusions
the anthelmintic and relaxant activities explained traditional uses of R. fruticosus on scientific grounds. Relaxant activity follows the inhibittion of voltage gated channels. Although the plant extract has cytotoxic effects,yet it is evident from acute toxicity study that it is safe in concentration 100 mg/kg. Further work is required to isolate pharmacologically active compounds.