Adaptogenic activity of Valeriana wallichii using cold, hypoxia and restraint multiple stress animal model

Abstract

Valeriana wallichii (Indian valerian), a multi-valued plant, has been reported to have a number of bioactivities such as cytotoxic, anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic. The root of the plant is known to contain several phytoconstituents viz. valepotriates, isovalerinic acid and hesperidin, etc. having medicinal and neutraceuticals properties. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the adaptogenic potential of aqueous lyophilized root extract of V. wallichii of Indian Himalayan region using Cold-Hypoxia-Restraint (C-H-R) animal model. The characterization of the extract was carried out using marker compound by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and phytochemical analysis in terms of total phenol, total flavonoids, reducing power and antioxidant potentials, etc. Adaptogenic activity of the plant was evaluated in vivo, by exposing rats in Cold (5°C)-Hypoxia (428mmHg)-Restraint (C-H-R) animal model and different doses (50, 100, 200 and 500mg/kg) of extract were administered as single overnight dose before exposure. The maximal effective adaptogenic dose was observed to be 200mg/kg body weight which was used for cumulative study and biochemical analysis on attaining rectal temperature (Trec) 23°C. The animals supplemented with the extract were found to adapt much faster as indicated by the improved malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels as well as reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels in comparison to control. The results of present study indicated that the supplementation of aqueous root extract of V. wallichii had adaptogenic activity as assessed by C-H-R animal model.