Abstract
The present study investigated the chemical profile, toxicity, and anti-anaemic activity of Rubia tinctorum root aqueous extract against phenylhydrazine induced hemolytic anaemia. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS; acute toxicity test was evaluated by administering a single dose of 2,000 mg.kg-1 of the extract; anaemia was induced by administration of 40 mg phenylhydrazine by intraperitoneal injection for 2 days. Moreover, the anti-anaemic activity was evaluated by measuring the haematological parameters of rats treated with iron and aqueous extract for 15 days. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis results revealed the presence of 31 phytochemical compounds, among them, citric acid was found as the most abundant. No signs of toxicity or death were recorded, indicating that the LD50 of R. tinctorum root extract is higher than 2,000 mg.kg-1. Furthermore, the aqueous extract increased red blood cell levels by 69.82 and 71.67 % in the groups treated with 200 and 400 mg.kg-1 of the extract, respectively. Besides, a significant increase in hemoglobin from 12.05 ± 0.15 to 12.9 ± 0.52 g.dL-1 was noted in rats treated with 400 mg.kg-1 of extract. Thus, the data indicate that the root extract could be considered a natural source for the treatment of anaemia.
Highlights
Aqueous extracts of Rubia tinctorum roots were assessed for phytochemical composition, acute toxicity, and antianaemic activity thereof
Rubia tinctorum roots are widely used in traditional medicine (Manojlovic et al 2005), a few studies were found in the literature on the phytochemicals composition of aqueous extract thereof
In future studies, it will be better to measure the ferritin and serum vitamin levels which are important markers in anaemia diagnostic. This is the first report on the antianaemic activity of the aqueous extract obtained from the roots of Rubia tinctorum
Summary
It is a global public health phenomenon affecting developed and developing countries via severe consequences for human health and economic and social development (WHO 2008). The most exposed are infants, children in intensive growth, older adults, and pregnant women. It is thought to be responsible for 3.7 % to 12.8 % of maternal deaths during pregnancy and childbirth in Africa and South Asia (Khan et al 2006). Several factors are responsible for the spread of anaemia: malnutrition, attacks by blood parasites such as trypanosomes, plasmodium, and helminths. It has been reported that the high demand for the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
