EVALUATION OF ANTI-STRESS ACTIVITY OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF SAUROPUS ANDROGYNUS LEAVES

Anti-stress activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Sauropus androgynous leaves was investigated against experimentally induced stress in rats using forced swimming endurance test and chronic cold restraint stress test. Acute toxicity study was performed and hydro-alcoholic extract of Sauropus androgynous leaves was found to be safe at a dose of 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. Two doses 200 mg/kg (SALE-200) and 400 mg/kg (SALE-400) of the extract was subjected to the evaluation of anti-stress activity. The parameters like cholesterol, triglycerides and corticosterone were estimated to determine the anti-stress activity. The animals pre-treated with SALE-200 and SALE-400 significantly restored the altered biochemical and physical parameters, when compared with stress control group. In addition the histopathology of the adrenal gland also confirmed the anti-stress activity of the extract as the SALE-400 treated groups showed significant recovery and SALE-200 treated groups showed moderately significant recovery of architecture of the adrenal gland. However, the maximum activity was observed at 400 mg/kg bodyweight. The findings of the present study concluded that the hydro alcoholic extract of Sauropus androgynous leaves showed a significant dose-dependent anti-stress activity.