Behavioural assessment of Mikania micrantha Kunth roots in Wistar albino rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the adaptogenic activity of methanolic and aqueous extract of roots of Mikania micrantha kunth in Wistar albino rats using different experimental models such as anoxia stress tolerance, swimming endurance and immobilisation stress. The plant was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The parameters like anoxia stress tolerance and swimming endurance time were recorded. The estimation of biochemical marker levels and determination of organs weight were carried out in immobilisation stress model. These activities are tested at oral doses of extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg and diazepam 2 mg/kg was used for comparison. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids and tannins. Pretreatment with methanolic extract showed increase in anoxia stress tolerance time and swimming endurance time. There was a dose dependant significant reduction in biochemical parameters like serum glucose, cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen levels exhibited methanolic extract treated animals. The stress induced increase in weight of liver, adrenal gland and decrease in weight of spleen were significantly reversed by the methanolic extract at higher dose. The results from the study indicated that methanolic extract of M. micrantha roots possessed significant antistress activity.   Key words: Mikania micrantha Kunth., Wistar albino rats, anoxia stress, methanolic extract.