GEOMORPHOLOGY:

Amaranthus viridis L. (Family Amaranthaceae) is found in warmer climates. Furthermore, the whole plant has analgesic and antipyretic effects and is utilised in traditional medical systems to treat pain and fever¹. Amaranthus viridis Linn.is thought to be of Asian origin, although it is now a worldwide weed found in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as well outside temperate zones (e.g., Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia). It's also a huge problem in sub-Saharan Africa.

This is a rather common plant. It is cultivated on occasion (for example, in Nigeria). Gabonese and Democratic Republic of the Congo)². Amaranthus viridis Linn. is a 1-meter-tall, erect or ascending, angular, annual or short-lived perennial herb that bears branches. The stem is slender to sparsely pubescent in the upper part with multicellular hairs. Its alternate leaves range in shape from deltoid-ovate to rhomboid-oblong, 2-8cm 1.5–6cm, with a petiole up to 10 cm long, a margin that is occasionally sinuate, an emarginate apex with a small mucro, and a base that is quickly cuneate. The leaves can be glabrous or pubescent. In the lower part of the stem, frequently in proliferating, 7mm-diameter, paniculated, axillary clusters, it also has axillary or largely terminal spikes that are frequently paniculated, agglomerated cymes, and placed in slender, up to 12cm-long arrangements. Flowers are subsessile, green, and unisexual; bracts and bracteoles are lanceolate ovate, with male and female varieties mixed together; tepals in male flowers have 3 stamens; in female flowers, the superior midrib is frequently enlarged above and curved along the fruit. Fruit of a sub-globose capsule, about 1.5 mm in diameter, not or barely larger than the perianth, often severely wrinkled, indehiscent, and one seeded One millimetre in diameter, shiny, black, with an acute edge that may be verrucose or have a discrete structure, the seed is sub-globose and somewhat compressed. Seedlings with lanceolate, 12mm 2.5mm cotyledons and epigeal germination may be seen³. Other traditional applications include treating urinary tract inflammation, diuretics, sexual diseases vermifuges, analgesics, anti-rheumatics, anti-ulcers, antiemetics, appetite stimulants, laxatives, anti-leprosy, respiratory, ocular, and asthma treatments⁴. The plant also has anti-proliferative, anti-fungal, and antiviral lactin capabilities in addition to ribosome-inactivating protein, carotene, and anti-viral activity⁵. However, there are insufficient scientific studies to back up these alleged analgesic and antipyretic effects. This has started the process of doing the studies to verify the veracity of these significant claims of traditional potency.

Fig- 1- Amaranthus viridis Linn

Botanical Classification:

· Kingdom : Plantae

· Division : Magnoliophyta

· Class : Magnoliopsida

· Order : Caryophyllales

· Family : Amaranthaceae

· Genus : Amaranthus-pigweed

· Species :Amaranthus viridis Linn – Slenderamaranthus

Synonyms:

· Kannada : Dagglis, Dagglarive soppu, Cheakeerae soppu, Keeresoppu.

· Bengali :Kantanotya

· Gujarathi :Dhimdo

· Sanskrit :Tanduliya

· Hindi : Kanta chaulai, Janglichaulai

· English : Slender amaranths, greenamaranths

· Malayalam : Bayam putih, Bayammunyit.

PHYTOCHEMISTRY:

Amaranthus viridis Linn., has very nutritious seeds and leaves. The seeds are high in fats and protein (14–16%). In leaves, there are proteins (30–35%) and fibres (4-6 percent). Additionally, significant amounts of vitamins A, riboflavin, C, and Niacin are present. The essential oil found in the leaves and other plant parts gives Amaranthus viridis Linn. Its distinct scent and aroma. By using GCMS analysis, essential oils are typically described⁶. Major components of chemical constituent include flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins, saponins, steroid and phenols The extent of each of these constituents varies depending on the type of species or cultivators. Structures of important components of Leaf extract (methanolic) showed the presence of quercetin and rutin. Other compounds including spinosterol (24-ethyl-22-dehydrolathosterol), 24-methyl-22-dehydrolathosterol, 24-methyllathosterol, 24- ethyl-22-dehydrocholesterol, and 24-ethyllathosterol were also present. Roots extract showed the presence of amasterol (24- methylene-20-hydroxycholesta- 5,7-dien-3β-ol)^7-8.

Rutein

Quercetin

Kaempferol

Betalain

Amasterol

Resveratrol

Naringenin

Epicatechin

Rosmarinic acid

Chlorogenic acid

Gulonic acid

Asiatic acid (pentacyclic triterpenoids)

Apigenin

Methionine

Figure:1-Most of all medicinal plant contain following chemical properties

ETHNOMEDICAL BENEFICIAL:

The plant is emollient and vermifuge. An entire plant decoction is used to stop inflammations and dysentery as well as to purify blood. Urinary tract inflammation is treated with the root juice. Constipation is also treated with it. Dysentery is treated with the pounded root. The leaves have purgative, febrifuge, and diuretic effects. The leaf sap is believed to have vermifuge, anti-filaria, purgative, and heart-problem-relieving properties. To treat swelling, skin eruptions and wound infections, pneumonia, orchitis, and haemorrhoids, the leaves are made into poultices and applied fresh or dried. The entire plant can be used to make yellow and green dyes, and the leaf sap is used as an eye wash to cure eye infections. The potash-rich ash from the plants is every once in a while, used to make soap⁹.

Amaranthus crushed grains can be found in a variety of flour-based foods, including noodles, cookies, bread, pancakes, and breads. The grains can be popped like popcorn or flaked like oatmeal. Amaranthus essential oil contains phytochemicals that protect against a wide range of illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, ageing, arteriosclerosis, etc. Amaranthus can be used in a variety of confections that are bound with honey or sorghum, cheese spreads, salad dressings, breads, and toppings for sweets. It can also be utilised as food, silage, and organic manure. Amaranthus leaves, either fresh or dried, are applied topically to treat a variety of infections, such as swelling, gonorrhoea, abscesses, and orchitis. Roots are used to treat dysentery, while whole plant infusion is used to purify blood. Amaranthus leaf sap is used in many parts of the world to treat eye infections, childhood epilepsy, and convulsions. Heart problems can also be treated with leaf sap. Also febrifugal in nature are leaves. Ash from Amaranthus viridis, which is high in soda, is used to produce natural¹⁰.

Despite being consumed in small amounts, many herbs and spices have a big impact on health because they are rich in antioxidants and specific essential minerals. It is unclear how much thin amaranth must be consumed in order to reap its health advantages. Although it is an excellent source of several minerals that are helpful for people's health, researchers do not have concrete advice for the quantity that should be used. It enhances the diet's flavours. Whatever your interests and tastes, thin amaranthus can be a terrific addition to your kitchen because it gives many recipes a unique flavour and personality while also having health benefits.

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES:

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities:

Despite being consumed in small amounts, many herbs and spices have a big impact on health because they are rich in antioxidants and certain essential minerals. Pure methanol and water were used as solvents to extract active ingredients from leaves and seeds. Extracts of the active ingredients from seeds and leaves yielded 5.4-6.0 percent and 2.4-3.7 percent, respectively, using water and methanol as solvents. The extracts had significant concentrations of total phenolics (1.03 to 3.64 GAE, g/100g), total flavonoids (18.4 - 5.42 QE, g/100g), and they also have the capacity to scavenge 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (IC50: 14.25 - 83.43 g/ml). Additionally, the investigated extracts demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against a number of bacterial and fungal species¹¹.

Anti-inflammatory activity:

The ability of leaf isolates from Amaranthus viridis Linn. to decrease inflammatory response was investigated (aqueous, petroleum ether and alcoholic). Male albino rats served as the experiment's test subjects. Animal models of cotton pellet glaucoma and oedema brought on by carageenan were used to test the extracts' anti-inflammatory abilities. The extracts were ingested at dosages of 50, 100, and 200mg/kg. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, extracts were compared to indomethacin (standard drug). Water and ethanol extracts exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect at a dose of 200mg/kg. The solvent extract, on either hand, has very little inhibitory effect¹².

Antinociceptive and Antipyretic Activities:

Using a writhing and ethanolic acid-induced hot plate test, the antinociceptive properties of an alcoholic extract of Amaranthus viridis Linn. were examined in rats. The yeast-induced pyrexia technique was used to assess the extract's antipyretic efficacy in mice. The extract was given to both laboratory animals at dosages of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The statistical analysis revealed possible (p0.01) antinociceptive and antipyretic effects of the alcoholic extract of Amaranthus viridis Linn. at 200 and 400mg/kg¹³.

Hepatoprotective activity:

Amaranthus viridis Linn. methanol extract was evaluated in wistar rats for its ability to prevent hepatotoxicity brought on by paracetamol. Amaranthus viridis Linn. methanol extracts were administered to infected animals for 15 days at dosages of 0.2 and 0.4g/kg, and total proteins, bilirubin, albumin, and the transaminases for glutamate oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate were all measured. An Amaranthus viridis Linn. methanolic extract significantly decreased (P0.001) the elevated levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, and bilirubin. Total protein and albumin levels were also returned to normal¹⁴.

Antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic activity:

The antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic properties of Amaranthus viridis methanol extract were investigated using diabetic rats that had been induced with alloxan. Albino Wistar rats developed diabetes after receiving a single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan for five days (ALX). Amaranthus viridis Linn. Methanol extracts were ingested orally for fifteen days at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4g/kg. At 0 days, 1 days, 10 days, and 15 days the blood glucose level was tested. Total proteins, total cholesterol, total glyceraldehydes, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all assessed after 15 days of therapy (HDLC). Amaranthus viridis Linn. Methanol extract significantly decreased blood glucose levels and lipid profiles at dosages of 0.2 and 0.4g/kg¹⁵.

Antifungal activity:

Research looked at the antifungal effects of Amaranthus extracts (ethanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and hexane) against a variety of fungal strains. In each example, the extract yield was 3.6, 3.2, 2.4, and 2.2 percent (m/m). All extracts' minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using a 96-well microplate dilution method. The MFC was determined using dextrose Sabouraud agar plates. All Amaranthus viridis Linn. Extracts killed Colletotrichum musae (which causes black spot disease in bananas) and Fusarium solani (which causes fusariosis disease in black pepper). Minimum inhibitory doses of dichloromethane extracts ranged from 15.6 to 250.0 g m/l, whereas hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts ranged from 31.2 to 250.0g m/l¹⁶.

Antihelminthic activity:

A study looked at the antihelminthic effects of three plants, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, and Amaranthus caudatus, on earthworms. Methanolic extracts of these plants demonstrated dose-dependent vermicidal activities at various concentration levels (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100mg/ml)¹⁷.

CONCLUSION:

The information presented above about Amaranthus viridis (L) is reviewed to gather geomorphology, phytochemistry, ethnomedical, and pharmacological data. The plant has been linked to a variety of pharmacological activities, implying that it has a wide range of applications in the treatment of a variety of ailments. It was reported for the presence of many phytoconstituents responsible for biological activities, and this plant has many activities. However, neurological issues are not clearly reported. As a result, in this mini review, the issue is simply written about a specific molecule from the Amaranthus viridis linn., which needs to work on neurological conditions. As a result, it is necessary to use these phytoconstituents that can be used as lead molecules in the synthesis of novel agents with high therapeutic activity. Isolation and characterization of phytoconstituents, as well as their elucidation.

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Received on 29.06.2022 Modified on 06.10.2022

Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2023; 13(1):41-44.

DOI: 10.52711/2231-5691.2023.00007