PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF OXALIS CARNICULATA LINN. FOR ANTI-DIPSOTROPIC AND ANTI-PYRETIC ACTIVITY

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. The present study was based on the pharmacognostic and pharmacological evaluation of Oxalis carniculata linn. for anti-dipsotropic and anti-pyretic activity. Oxalis corniculata Linn. (Family: Oxalidaceae) is a well-known plant in India and is one of the most versatile medicinal plants having a wide spectrum of biological activity. All the chemicals with specifications were issued from the departmental store. The whole plant of Oxalis carniculata was collected from Moradabad area in the month of June & July. The whole plant was collected and washed with water. The whole plant was dried under the shade. The dried material was stored in air tight container. The whole plant was authenticated by Dr. G.P. Sinha Scientist-E & Head Botanical Survey of India Central Regional Centre 10, Chatham Line, Allahabad-211002, UP, India. Macroscopy, microscopy and physicochemical evaluation of Oxalis carniculata. The extraction was performed using Soxhlet apparatus then pharmacognostic and analytical evaluation of the herb were done. The extract was also used for acute toxicity to determine the dose. The anti-dipsotropic potential was evaluated through withdrawal anxiety and alcohol consumption model, however antipyretic activity was evaluated through brewer's yeast inducted pyrexia model. In aqueous extract treated animals, the rectal temperature was estimated as 38.63±0.14#ºC and 38.18±0.13#ºC at the dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, respectively that showed for its anti-pyretic action. In our study on day 11, the ethanol-treated animals spent significantly more time in the ethanol-paired chamber as compared to the saline-paired chamber (P<0.001). EE (200 and 400 mg/kg) administration led to a dose-dependent reversal of withdrawal anxiety as evidenced by significant increase in time spent in the open arm (P < 0.01). In concluded that in anti-dipsotropic activity, EE200 and EE400 showed significant increase in the time spent in open arm of plus maze indicating the reduction in anxiety after alcohol withdrawal and reduction in the total ethanol consumption. This indicates that Oxalis corniculata Linn. have significant anti-dipsotropic and anti-pyretic activity.