title: Pharmacological profile of the aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius Schott.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius contains phytochemicals like flavonoids and tannins. And whereas flavonoids and tannins have antioxidant and antipyretic activity, hence, current work is carried out to screen crude methanolic extract of aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius (Ru.Cr) and crude flavonoids rich extract of Rubus ulmifolius (Ru.F) for possible antioxidant and antipyretic activity. Ru.Cr and Ru.F are also tested for brine shrimps lethality bioassay. Ru.F is tested for the first time for possible antioxidant and antipyretic activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preliminary phytochemical screening of Ru.Cr and Ru.F was performed as it provides rapid finger printing for targeting a pharmacological activity. Acute toxicity and Brine shrimps' cytotoxicity studies of Ru.Cr and Ru.F were performed to determine its safe dose range. Antioxidant and antipyretic studies were also performed as per reported procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ru.Cr tested positive for presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and steroids. Ru.Cr is safe up to 6 g/kg following oral doses for acute toxicity study. Ru.Cr is safe up to 75 μg/kg (p.o), LC50for Ru.Cr and Ru.F are 16.7 ± 1.4 μg/ml 10.6 ± 1.8 μg/ml, respectively (n = 3). Both Ru.Cr and Ru.F demonstrated comparable antioxidant activity using vitamin C as standard (p ≤ 0.05). In test dose of 300 mg of Ru.Cr, rectal temperature was reduced by 74% (p ≤ 0.05) on 4thhour of the administration. More, Ru.F produced 72% reduction in pyrexia (p ≤ 0.05) on 4thhour of administration of paracetamol in Westar rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current work confirms that aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius contain flavonoids that are safe up to 6 g/kg (p.o). Crude methanolic extract and flavonoids rich fraction of Rubus ulmifolius have significant antioxidant and antipyretic activity. Further work is required to isolate the pharmacologically active substances for relatively safe and effective antipyretics and antioxidants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. niazpharmacist@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaoib
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Wadood Ali
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.|Department of Pharmacy, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Kyber PakhtunKhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shuaib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D065856:Rubus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D058633:Antipyretics; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant; Antipyretic; Brewer’s yeast; Flavonoids; Paracetamol; Pyrexia; Rubus ulmifolius