Phytochemical and Biological Evaluations of Methanolic Extract of Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (Vill.) Brenan

Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (AMGRS) has traditionally been used a folk medicine in the treatment of inflammation, gonorrhea and piles without scientific evidence. Therefore, methanolic (MeOH) extract of AMGRS was studied for anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and enzymatic inhibition activities in addition to phytochemical screening to ascertain the realism of the folk claims. Anti-nociceptive activity was screened by hot plate test, tail immersion test and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing in mice with different doses of MeOH extract of AMGRS i.e. 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats with different doses of MeOH extract of AMGRS i.e. 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg. While, anticholinesterase and protease inhibition was carried to screen MeOH extract for its relevant therapeutic uses. Hot plate technique and tail immersion method demonstrated dose related antinociceptive response starting from 300 mg/kg to maximum effect seen at 600 mg/kg dose. Acetic acid induced writing produced 47% pain protection during 1st phase (0-15 minutes) at 600 mg/kg dose. Likewise, carrageenan induced rat paw edema test showed 42% reduction in edema at 4th h after oral administration of dose (600 mg/kg). The MeOH extract showed mild anticholinesterase inhibition (24.29±0.57) while exhibited significant protease inhibition activity (60.52±0.18). The present investigation suggests that this plant possesses substantial anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and protease inhibition activities.