Evaluation of Adaptogenic Activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. Pasha Shameer*, Khaleel Mohamed, Som Sukhen M.M.U College of Pharmacy, K. K. Doddi, Dist-Ramanagara-571511, Karnataka (India) *Corresponding Author: Shameer Pasha Department of Pharmacology, M.M.U College of Pharmacy, K. K. Doddi, Dist. Ramanagara-571511 Karnataka (india) E-mail ID: shameer_pasha2010@rediffmail.com Telephone number: +91-9845778238 Fax number: 080-7271689
Online published on 20 March, 2013. Abstract Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is an medicinal plant used in the treatment of many clinical conditions in India. Its adaptogenic activity have been investigated in this study using albino mice and rats. The ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves was prepared and subjected to preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening. Glycosides, phytosterols, tannins and amino acids were found to be present. Acute toxicity studies were carried out in albino mice. The ethanolic extract did not show the lethal effect upto the doses of 2000mg/kg body weight with no signs of abnormalities or any mortality observed for 14 days period under observation after single dose of drug administration. The parameters studied were swimming endurance, cold-restraint induced ulcer, and effect of coldrestraint stress on adrenocortical activity and weights of organs like liver, spleen, adrenal glands. Geriforte was used as a standard adaptogenic drug, which is a commercial preparation of Himalaya Drugs Company. The results indicate that pretreatment with ethanolic extract of leaves of Moringa oleifera exhibited significant adaptogenic activity at the tested doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight. On the basis of results, it was concluded that Moringa oleifera possess adptogenic activity. Top Keywords Adaptogenic, cold-restraint stress, Moringa oleifera, swimming endurance. Top |