full issue - Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy

Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy
Vol. 5 (3) 1362-1371 July 2011, ISSN 0973-8916 (Print), 2230-7303 (Online)
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atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases,
rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia/reperfusion injury,
obstructive sleep, apnea, and other diseases. The
process of aging may result, at least in part, from
radical-mediated oxidative damage was very well
explained long ago (4).
Antioxidants are compounds that act as
inhibitors of the oxidation process and are found
to inhibit oxidant chain reactions at small
concentrations and thereby eliminate the threat
of pathological processes (1). Phenolic
compounds present in medicinal plants have been
reported to possess powerful antioxidant activity
(2). Flavonoids are a major class of phenolic
compounds present in medicinal plants and are
found to have a potential role in prevention of
various diseases through their antioxidant
activity (5).
X . strumarium (Asteraceae), is a shrub
found throughout India and warmer parts of the
world. This plant has been widely reported to
have several medicinal properties in traditional
form of medicine. The beneficial properties are
diuretic, astringent, sedative, demulcent,
diaphoretic, analgesic, sialagogue, styptic,
sudorific, tonic, anodyne, antibacterial,
antifungal, antispasmodic, bactericide, bitter,
depressant, hemostat, laxative, refrigerant and
anti- rheumatic. The leaves and roots are often
used as anodyne, anti-rheumatic, appetizer,
diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, laxative and
sedative, anti-malaria, bitter tonic, febrifuge and
the treatment of scrofulous tumors. A decoction
of the root has been used in the treatment of high
fevers and oxytocic. Similarly, the seed’s
decoction is used in the treatment of bladder
complaints and poultice of the powdered seed
has been applied to treat open sores. The fruits
are also reported for their use in the treatment of
lesions, hypoglycemia, scrofula, fever, herpes,
and cancer. X. strumarium is also used for many
domestic purposes. The fruits are boiled in water
and still drank as a tea in some parts of Asia.
Cocklebur is also used in the manufacture of dye,
repellent, and tannin. The dried plant repels
weeevils from stored wheat grain (6). There are
also very few reports available on the
phytochemical and pharmacological activities of
Xanthium strumarium L. and other species
related to the genus Xanthium.
Earlier, workers on this plant have
extensively used the aerial parts of the plant,
whereas the root being one of the important parts
of the plant where in most of the active
constituents are stored has not been subjected
for systematic investigation. They are no reports
to show the use of roots of X. strumarium for the
screening of phytochemical analysis and
pharmacological investigations. Hence, the root
served as the core material for all the
investigations carried out in the present study.
Since polyphenolic compounds are present in the
ethanol and chloroform extracts of root of X.
strumarium., it was thought that it would be
worth while to evaluate the plant for antioxidant
activity. Lipids are one of the most susceptible
targets of free radicals. This oxidative destruction
is known as lipid per oxidation and may induce
many pathological events. Apart from
antioxidant studies, the present study therefore
also involves evaluation of anti-lipidemic
activity.
Materials and Methods
Plant material and extraction: The root of X.
strumarium were procured and authenticated
from Dr. Krishna, Professor and Taxonomist,
Department of Bio-technology, Kuvempu
University, Shimoga. The authenticated root was
dried in shade and powdered coarsely. Extraction
was done according to standard procedures using
analytical grade solvents. Coarse powder of the
root was (1 kg) Soxhlet extracted with 90%
Sridharamurthy et al