ISHS Acta Horticulturae 786: International Workshop on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
ANTISTRESS ACTIVITY OF A HERBAL EXTRACT |
| Authors: | K.M. Geetha, V. Murugan |
| Keywords: | Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, gastric ulceration, plasma corticosterone levels |
| Abstract:
Withania somnifera (Family Solanaceae) is cultivated in India and North America. The herb has traditionally been used for calming the mind, relieving weakness, nervous exhaustion, arthritis and in helping the body to adapt to physical stress. Ocimum sanctum (Family Lamiaceae) is grown all over India. The present study is carried out to validate scientifically the antistress activities of the ethanolic extract of a combination of W. somnifera and O. sanctum by forced swimming stress model in albino rats. Stress induced gastric ulceration and changes in adrenocortical activity are used to evaluate antistress activity. The combined extract did not produce any discernable antistress activity on a single acute administration but was shown to attenuate stress following oral administration for seven days at 150 mg/kg body weight. It reduced the incidence of stress induced gastric ulceration in rats and also attenuated stress induced increase in the weight of adrenal glands and plasma corticosterone levels. The findings of the present investigation indicated that the mixture of the ethanolic extracts of roots of W. somnifera and leaves of O. sanctum in the ratio of 1:1 exerted significant antistress activity. | |
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