Antistress activity of ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus Willd roots in mice

Indian J Exp Biol. 2012 Jun;50(6):419-24.

Abstract

Ethanolic extract of the roots of A. racemosus improved the stress tolerance in chemical writhing test and swimming endurance test at all the doses as compared to stress control group. Restraint stress induced elevation of blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly lowered by pretreatment with extract. Moreover, stress induced variations in levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, protein and glutathione content in mouse brain were significantly ameliorated by pretreatment with extract. The extract attenuated the elevated weight of adrenal glands and increased the reduced weight of the spleen during stress. In conclusion, the results suggest antistress property of Asparagus racemosus in different model of stress.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / drug effects
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology
  • Animals
  • Asparagus Plant / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Phytotherapy / methods
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • Random Allocation
  • Restraint, Physical / psychology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Stress, Psychological / prevention & control*
  • Swimming / psychology

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Ethanol