A PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF KAEMPFERIA ROTUNDA RHIZOME FOR IT'S ANTI - ASTHMATIC, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI - INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES

The study includes the phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of the      ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes. The powdered rhizomes were extracted by means of soxhlet using the solvent ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrate, cardiac glycoside, protein, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. These constituents may be represented the presence for biological activities of the plant. The acute toxicity study revealed that there is no mortality with the ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes up to the   dose level   of 2000 mg/kg. Histamine contracts the tracheal-bronchial muscle of guinea pig, goat, horse, dog and man. Guinea pig trachea is used for the screening of anti-asthmatic activity. The H₁ receptor after stimulation produces well-ordered dose related contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea. In current study Kaempferia rotunda significantly inhibited histamine induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea preparation indicating its H₁ receptor antagonist activity and supports anti asthmatic property of the plant. The antioxidant property was studied by hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and reducing power assay. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes revealed that the extract scavenge the hydrogen peroxide. However, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability was low comparing to standard (ascorbic acid). Reducing power of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes significantly increased with increasing concentration. The in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes had shown concentration dependent inhibition of protein denaturation, hypotonicity induced haemolysis of rabbit red blood cell membrane stabilization.

Key words: Ethanolic Extract, Kaempferia Rotunda Rhizome, Anti - Asthmatic, Antioxidant, Anti - Inflammatory