Verma, A.K.Shruti2022-07-022022-07-022022-03https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810185081Plant samples of Berberis lycium Royle (BLR) were collected from different Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand which ranged from 533 to 1922 m/ASL altitude. The bioactive compound berberine was quantified by RP-HPLC and GC-MS method. Results showed a fair amount of berberine in all the plant samples. Higher berberine content was found in the root, followed by the stem, and least in leaves of the plant. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of parts of BLR plant samples revealed the presence of good amount of protein, phenol, flavonoid, total carbohydrates reducing, and non-reducing carbohydrate. Because of high amount of berberine (36mg/g dw) in BLR-5 root sample, it was further investigated for its biological activity both in-vivo and in-vitro. Moreover, to investigate the possible combinational therapy, Withania somnifera (WS) was cotreated with BLR hydroethanolic root extract. GC-MS analysis of BLR root extract showed 59% berberine, 8% ankorine and 5% canadine. In WS root extract oleic acid, phytol, hexadecanoic acid and squalene were found. A sub-acute study of 28 days was conducted against cyclophosphamideinduced immunosuppression and hepatotoxicity in rats. Cyclophosphamide was administrated orally in two doses of 100mg/kg/bw on the 9th and the 16th day of the study. Levamisole @50mg/kg/bw administrated subcutaneously for 28days, as a standard immuno-stimulatory drug. Oral administration of hydroethanolic root extract of BLR and WS with the doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight individually and in combination was given up to 28days in morning daily before meal. Rats were antigenically challenged with SRBCs for the investigation of immunological response. On the 14th and 28th day of study blood and tissue samples were examined for hematological, biochemical, immunological, and oxidative stress-related parameters. In-vivo study results showed that the plant extract treatment improved the hematological parameter, normalized liver function and kidney function test, and enhanced cellular and humoral immune response in rats in a dose-dependent manner on 28th day of study. Likewise, in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory studies showed low IC50 values for the combination of BLR and WS having higher inhibition of protein against heat denaturation. However, no antimicrobial activity of plant extract individually or in combination could be observed against tested animal and plant pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, it can be concluded from the present study results, that hydroethanolic root extract of BLR had ameliorating potentials against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity and immunosuppression. However, co-administration of BLR and WS provided the advantage of producing maximum therapeutic efficacy as imunostimulatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and nephroprotective in rats through a synergistic mechanism of Berberis lycium Royle and Withania somnifera in cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity.EnglishThesis