ORIGIN, BIOACTIVITIES AND THERAPEUTIC USES OF Arachis hypogaea (Peanut/Fabaceae)

A larger number of medicinal plants and their purified constituents have been shown beneficial therapeutic potentials. In view of the increasing incidence of gram-negative infections, studies were initiated to evaluate the effect of herbal extracts on Escherichia coli-induced peritonitis and sepsis. We present here the protective effects of an Indian medicinal plant Archis hypongea as compared to Ofloxacin in E. coli induced peritonitis. It is the fourth important oilseed crop of the world in production after soybean, cottonseed and rapeseed. Chemical constituents present in the plant are acids, arachin, lecithin protein, flavonoids, beta-carotene, amino acids, minerals, fat, carbohydrates etc. It has varies pharmacological activities like antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, ant mutagenic, ant proliferative, anti-inflammatory. Rats were pretreated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg/bwt dose for 3 days and fourth day with E. coli (1×108 CFU/ml) strain and consecutively 3 days treatment. Mortality was monitored for 14 days. After the death of rats or completion of the experiment rats were sacrifice and kidney were used for our protocol. Colonies were count and statically analysis was done. Results showed a significant depression of phagocytic activity occurred in E. coli-infected mice as compared with control mice that were not exposed to the bacterial challenge. Pretreatment of mice with Archis hypongea improved bacterial clearance as well as improved phagocytic and intracellular bactericidal capacities of neutrophils. In the Ofloxacin treated mice although bacterial clearance was rapid, polymorph phagocytosis was depressed. These data denote that the intraperitoneal administration of Archis hypongea extract significantly modifies the course of E. coli-induced peritonitis and bacteremia due, in part, to extract-induced enhancement of macrophage function.