Protective effect of Tetrataenium rigens and Celastrus paniculatus, two botanical sources of Vāluḷuvai on erythrocyte hemolysis and protein denaturation

Background: Varmam is an important section of Siddha system of medicine. In Varmam therapeutics, Tetrataenium rigens (Wall. ex DC.) Manden., has been used as Vāluḷuvai in place of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. In this study, we compared the protective effects of T. rigens and C. paniculatus on erythrocyte hemolysis and protein denaturation. Materials and Methods: The fruits of T. rigens and the seeds of C. paniculatus were extracted with ethanol; the membrane stabilization potential of the ethanol extracts was evaluated using heat and hypotonicity-induced hemolysis in sheep RBC. Inhibition of egg albumin denaturation by the extracts was also estimated. Results: In heat and hypotonicity-induced hemolysis, both T. rigens and C. paniculatus extracts exhibited dose-dependent inhibition; there was no statistical difference between the treatments. In egg albumin denaturation assay, only the C. paniculatus exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of egg albumin denaturation. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicated that both T. rigens and C. paniculatus had SRBC membrane stabilization effect; while only C. paniculatus prevented egg albumin denaturation, in a dose-dependent manner. Bioassay-guided isolation of C. paniculatus might yield some useful clues for the management of inflammatory joint diseases.