ADHATODA VASICA: EFFECT OF ADMINISTERING ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ADHATODA VASICA ON BLOOD COUNT AND SOD ENZYME ACTIVITY AGAINST EXPOSURE TO γ – RADIATIONS

In the present studies, antibacterial studies and medicinal effects of the ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica on the physiological variations including blood countvariations w.r.t. RBC, WBC, Hb and enzyme SOD activity of the subjects under study, Swiss Albino mice, on exposure to gamma radiations, have been evaluated.  Phyto-chemical analysis of A. vasica showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and reducing sugars. It was observed that RBC, WBC and Hb count of the control group mice increased with the administration of extract where as these parameters decrease on exposure to gamma radiations. However, in case of group of mice administered with the dose of the extract and exposed to gamma radiations, the decrease is much less as that observed in the mice exposed to only radiations. In case of enzymatic SOD activity, it was observed that the animals with extract dose showed lower value of SOD specific activity while the animals with extract dose and γ radiations also showed lower SOD specific activity as compared to the animals exposed to gamma radiations without the extract dose. These results substantiate the medicinal effects on the blood count and enzymatic activity in the subject animals. Antibacterial studies showed positive results against B.  Subtillis, and Shigella.