Ind. J. Pharm. Edu. Res., 2023; 57(3s):s652-s659. https://www.ijper.org Original Article Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Vol 57, Issue 3(Suppl), Jul-Sep, 2023 S652 DOI: 10.5530/ijper.57.3s.74 Copyright Information : Copyright Author (s) 2023 Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Publishing Partner : EManuscript Tech. [www.emanuscript.in] Haematinic Activity of Nagaphani (Opuntia elatior Mill.) Swarasa through its Betalain Content on Phenylhydrazine-induced Haemolytic Anaemia in Rats Vaidehi Vadhvana 1 , Rabinarayan Acharya 2 , Mukeshkumar Nariya 1, * 1 Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, Gujarat, INDIA. 2 Department of Dravyaguna, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, Gujarat, INDIA. ABSTRACT Aim: Woody shrubs of Nagaphani (Opuntia elatior Mill.) (Family: Cactaceae), bearing a pear shaped feshy fruits rich in betalain content, vitamins and has antioxidant activities. Its fruits showed a great demand for its daily consumption in anaemic condition and also for its health benefts in general debilities. The present study aimed to rationalise folklore claim on Nagaphani at classical dose of original dosage i.e. swarasa (fresh expressed juice) in albino rats. Materials and Methods: Nagaphani was subjected for quality assurance through physicochemical and phytochemical analysis. In vitro antioxidant studies of extracts carried out using DPPH scavenging activity and FRAP assay. In vivo hematinic activity of Nagaphani swarasa at two dose levels (1.8 and 3.6 mL/kg) assessed against phenylhydrazine-induced haemolytic anaemia in rats. Results: Nagaphani fruit swarasa showed in vitro antioxidant activity due to presence of betalain, phenolic and Vitamin C contents. In hematinic study, there was signifcant increase in the haemoglobin and related parameters, serum ferritin, total iron and antioxidants such as glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in anaemic rats. Nagaphani fruit swarasa reversed the other biochemical parameters, reticulocyte count and TIBC content in a dose-dependent manner in phenylhydrazine-induced haemolytic anaemia in rats. Conclusion: The result of study supports the ethanomedicinal claims of Nagaphani fruit Swarasa as being potent haemitinic drug to treat haemolytic anaemia in albino rats may be due to presence of betalains as an active constituent and potent antioxidant agent. Keywords: Betalain, Haemolytic anaemia, Haematinic, Nagaphani, Phenylhydrazine, Opuntia elatior. INTRODUCTION Anaemia is the most prevalent nutritional defciency disorder around 30% globally and WHO estimated, 50% of children and in 25% of men in developing countries. Te highest ubiquity of anaemia exists in the developing world especially in India compared to other developing countries. 1 In India, around 0.5% of total deaths in 2016 were contributed by nutritional defciencies. Prevalence of anaemia was reduced up to 16% in past 16 years i.e. 74.3% to 58.5% during 2015-16, whereas recent data highlights the on-going micronutrient defciencies in Indian population. Studies state that 60-70% population faces low ferritin levels. Among 30% of world’s population is anaemic with vast margins in developing countries and thus classifed amongst the top ten-selected health risks as per World Health Organization. 2 Anaemia described as Pandu roga has age-old history of occurrence and treatments in classical texts typically characterised by the presence of Ketaki dhulinibhachaya that means discolouration resembling the colour of the Pandanus fowers. In every case of disease, reduction in number of circulating RBCs and Haemoglobin is witnessed. 3 In conventional medicine, various forms of iron viz. ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumerate etc. are commonly prescribed, but these therapies have their noted adverse efects e.g. nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, gastric discomfort and constipation. Terapeutic agents derived from natural produces for treating anaemia has attracted the world to utilize them as an efective alternative therapeutic tool. 3 Woody shrub of Nagaphani (Opuntia elatior Mill.) (Family: Cactaceae), bearing a pear shaped feshy fruits rich in betalain content, vitamins and has antioxidant activities. Its fruits are sold in market of Gujarat showed a great demand for its daily consumption in anaemic condition and also for its health benefts in general debilities. 4 Previous research work reported the haematinic activity of O. elatior fruits swarasa against mercuric Received: 15-06-2021; Revised: 22-09-2022; Accepted: 24-06-2023. Correspondence: Dr. Mukeshkumar Nariya Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar-361008, Gujarat, INDIA. Email: mukeshnariya@gmail.com