title: Evaluation of acute toxicity and anti-ulcerogenic study of rhizome starch of two source plants of Tugaksheeree (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. and Maranta arundinacea Linn.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disorders like hyperacidity and gastric ulcers are found very frequently now days because of a faulty lifestyle. Starches (Satwa) obtained from the rhizomes of two plants namely, Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. (Fam. Zingiberaceae) and Maranta arundinacea Linn. (Fam. Marantaceae) are used in folklore practice, as Tugaksheeree, for the treatment of the above-mentioned complaints.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acute toxicity potential of the C. angustifolia and M. arundinacea along with their assessment for adaptogenic activity, by noting their effect on forced swimming-induced hypothermia and gastric ulceration in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  For acute toxicity study, the effect of test drugs C. angustifolia and M. arundinacea rhizome starch were studied after a single administration of up to three dose levels, with 4400 mg/kg as the maximum dose. The animals were observed for 72 hours periodically and mortality was recorded up to seven days. The adaptogenic and anti-ulcer activities were assessed by determining and comparing the changes in rectal temperature, ponderal changes, ulcer index and histopathological parameters in the test drug group with that of stress control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the drugs did not produce any toxic symptoms or mortality even up to the maximum dose level of 4400 mg/kg. Both the test drugs significantly reversed the stress-induced gastric ulceration in comparison to stress-control rats. Starch from rhizome of C. angustifolia reversed forced swimming-induced hypothermia apparently, but not to a significant extent. However, the reversal of hypothermia found statistically significant in the rhizome starch of the M. arundinacea treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. arundinacea had better anti-stress activity in comparision to C. angustifolia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dravyaguna Vijnana, K.V.G. Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajashekhara
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Group, Research and Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.affiliation: Department of Dravyaguna, Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurved, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Parmeshwar P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, S. D. M. Research Centre for Ayurveda and Allied Sciences, Udupi, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ravishankar
keywords: Curcuma Angustifolia Roxb.; Gastric Ulcer; Maranta Arundinacea Linn.; Starch; Swimming; Tugaksheeree