2014, Vol. 2, Issue 4, Part B

Methods: The authenticated plant material was defatted using petroleum ether and extracted with ethanol and distilled water to obtain ethanol (BVE) and aqueous (BVA) extract, respectively. The stabilization potential was studied on mouse mast cells and anti-anaphylactic activity was evaluated by determining the mortality rate of mice treated with toxicant (compound 48/80).

Results: The HPLC analysis recorded 2.09% of quercetin and 0.755% gallic acid in BVE and 0.07% and 8.16% in BVA, respectively. In acute toxicity study, no mortality and behavioral changes were observed up to a dose of 2,000 mg.kg^-1 p.o. In the compound 48/80- induced mast cell degranulation study, both BVE and BVA showed protection of mast cell degranulation in a dose-dependant manner. The table showed slightly better inhibition revealed by BVE (71.18%) at a dose level of 400 mg.kg^-1 when compared with standard drug DSCG (70.95%). The lower rate of mortality of mice from compound 48/80- induced anaphylactic shock was 50% at 400 mg.kg^-1 (BVE) whereas BVA had shown lesser effect on the anaphylactic shock.

Conclusion: It is noteworthy that the extent and potency of inhibition shown by BE against compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis was almost similar to that of DSCG. The results of the study demonstrated that the ethanol extract of B. variegata showed marked mast cell stabilization and anti-anaphylactic activities.