Subacute Effect of Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. On Hematological, Biochemical and Antioxidant Enzyme Parameters of Rat

E. Neriifolia is an herb extensively used in the Indian system of medicine, is a small deciduous tree of the family Euphorbiaceae. As traditional medicine the plant is useful in abdominal troubles, bronchitis, tumors, leucoderma, piles, inflammation, enlargement of spleen, anemia, ulcers, fever and in chronic respiratory troubles. E. neriifolia predominantly contains sugar, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and triterpenoidal saponin. The plant reported to have mild CNS depressant, wound healing and immunomodulatory activity of leaf hydroalcoholic extract. Saponin separated from E. neriifolia leaf posses good hemolytic and in-vitro antioxidant activity. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of sub-acute administration of E. neriifolia leaf 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 behavioral responses, food and water intake and body weight changes. Free radical scavenging activity and histopathology was done on liver and kidney samples. E. neriifolia extract treatment extreme significantly (p < 0.001) reduced serum lipid profile along with glucose establishing its catabolic property. E. neriifolia showed an extremely significant (p < 0.001) rise in liver and kidney SOD along with liver catalase and decrease in liver lipid peroxidation. These features indicate that E. neriifolia upto 400 mg/kg daily dose is safe and has potential to be consumed for long time in management of various diseases. Brief Synopsis: E. neriifolia is an herb extensively used in the Indian system of medicine. Plant reported to have mild CNS depressant, wound healing and immunomodulatory activity. The study investigates effect of sub-acute administration on haematological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme status. The results indicate E. neriifolia upto 400 mg/kg daily dose is safe and has potential for long time consumption.