"International Journal of Herbal Medicine"

Volume 1, Issue 2

 

Effect of Leaves of Artemisia vulgaris L. on Growth of Rats.

 

Author(s): Tanaya Ghosh, Prasenjit Mitra, Prasanta Kumar Mitra*
Professor & Head, Department of Medical, Biotechnology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim.

Abstract: To know the effect of leaves of Artemisia vulgaris Linn. on growth of rats, male albino rats were divided into three groups. First group of animals took normal diet while the second and third groups of animals took a mixture of normal diet and powdered leaves of Artemisia vulgaris Linn in the doses of 500 mg/kg and 1 g/kg respectively. In all the three groups growth of rats was checked up to 40 days. On 20th and 40th days of experiment blood pyruvate level was measured. Intestines of rats were also assayed for pyruvate dehydrogenase and transketolase activity. It was found out that growth of rats which took powdered leaves of Artemisia vulgaris Linn. with normal diet was stunted. Growth inhibition was dose dependant. Rats developed symptom of anorexia and became weak. Blood pyruvate level was elevated and intestinal pyrvate dehydrogenase activity was lowered. Pyruvate thus could not be converted to acetyl coenzyme A needed for generation of energy. Lack of energy caused growth inhibition in rats. Further, intestinal transketolase activity was found decreased. Due to this in pentose phosphate pathway there was insufficient production of NADPH and pentose sugars needed for synthesis of nucleic acid. This also caused growth inhibition in rats.

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