Phenyl propanoid rich extract of edible plant Halosarcia indica exert diuretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activity on Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Halosarcia indica (Amaranthaceae), an Edible food used in Indian traditional folk medicine. The present study aims to evaluate the diuretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties of Halosarcia indica aqueous extract (HAE) on Wistar albino rats. HAE was found to contain chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, scopoletin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside and β-sitosterol-D-glucopyranoside. HAE increased the urine excreted (Diuretic Index: 1.62–1.96 over 2–10 h) and curbed writhing responses significantly (40%) compared to aspirin (54.56%). It showed significant reduction in carrageenan plantar edema (42%) similar to indomethacin (48%). Anti-inflammatory activity by Cotton Granuloma method proved that HAE significantly reduced weights of pellets (dry weight 44.93 mg, wet weight 127.45 mg) similar to diclofenac sodium (dry weight 33.2 mg, wet weight 123.58 mg). Acute toxicity studies showed HAE to be safe until 2000 mg/kg. The above findings evidently propose that HAE has diuretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity as observed with rodent models.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phenyl propanoids
• diuresis
• anti-inflammatory
• Halosarcia indica
• Indian traditional medicine

Disclosure statement

All contributing authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Management, SASTRA Deemed to be UNIVERSITY, for providing the necessary facilities and the TRR funding. The financial support of DST-SERB, Government of India, and (EMR/2016/000326) is also earnestly acknowledged.