Effect of Subacute Exposure of Wrightia tinctoria Bark Extract on Hematological, Biochemical and Antioxidant Enzyme Parameters of Rat.

Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. extensively used in the Indian system of medicine, is a small deciduous tree of the family Apocynaceae The plant is very useful as stomachic, antidysenteric, carminative, astringent, aphrodisiac and diuretic, used in the treatment of abdominal pain, skin diseases and bilious affections. This plant is reported to have fungicidal, antinociceptive, wound healing, immunomodulatory and antiulcer activity. The major phytoconstituents are triacontanol, tryptanthrin, β-amyrin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol, cycloartenone, cycloeucalenol, β-sitosterol, lupeol, wrightial, 14α-methylzymosterol desmosterol and clerosterol. A number of poly herbal formulations containing W. tinctoria is available in market for psoriasis, diarrhoea and dysentery, dandruff and for rejuvenation of joint function. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of sub-acute administration of W. tinctoria bark extract on some haematological, biochemical, histological and antioxidant enzyme status of rat liver and kidney following 21 and 45 days treatment. The animals were observed for gross physiological and behavioural responses, food and water intake and body weight changes. Free radical scavenging activity and histopathology was done on liver and kidney samples. W. tinctoria showed signifi cant hemopoiesis with increase in body weight signifying anabolic effect. It signifi cantly reduced serum SGOT level and increased glucose levels. W. tinctoria caused increased SOD activity of liver along with catalase of both liver and kidney and decreased liver peroxidase ( P <0.001). These features indicate that W. tinctoria upto 1000 mg/kg daily dose is safe and has potential to be consumed for long time in management of various diseases.