Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIARTHRITIC AND HEMOLYSIS PREVENTIVE: MEMBRANE STABILIZING EFFICACY OF ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF OPERCULINA TURPETHUM

*Veena Sharma, Manu Singh

Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India.

ABSTRACT

Operculina turpethum Linn is convolvulaceous plant which is found throughout India, China, Ceylon, Australia. The roots are bitter, acrid, thermogenic, purgative, carminative, antihelmintic, expectorant, antipyretic, hepatic, stimulant and hydragogue. They are useful in colic constipation, dropsy, vitiated conditions of vata, paralysis, myalgia, arthralgia, pectoralgia, bronchitis, obesity, helminthiasis, gastropathy, ascites, inflammations, intermittent fever, leucoderma, puritus, ulcers, erysepelas, haemorrhoids, tumors, jaundice, ophthalmia, employed in drug formulations, dropsical effusions and rheumatism. In this study, membrane stabilizing properties of ethanolic root extract of the plant were investigated for their red blood cell membrane stabilizing potential. Membrane stabilization activity of ethanolic extract of Operculina turpethum roots was investigated against normal erythrocytes exposed to both heat and hypotonic induced lyses. The extracts inhibited heat as well as hypotonic solution induced haemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro. The percentage membrane stability exhibited by the extracts was concentration dependent and compared favorably with those of standard drugs as diclofenac and acetyl salicylic acid.

Keywords: Arthritis, diclofenac, hemolysis, hypotonic.