LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, toxicity and anti-anaemic activity of Rubia tinctorum L. aqueous extract

The present study investigated the chemical profile, toxicity, and anti-anaemic activity of Rubia tinctorum root aqueous extract against phenylhydrazine induced hemolytic anaemia. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS; acute toxicity test was evaluated by administering a single dose of 2,000 mg.kg^-1 of the extract; anaemia was induced by administration of 40 mg phenylhydrazine by intraperitoneal injection for 2 days. Moreover, the anti-anaemic activity was evaluated by measuring the haematological parameters of rats treated with iron and aqueous extract for 15 days. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis results revealed the presence of 31 phytochemical compounds, among them, citric acid was found as the most abundant. No signs of toxicity or death were recorded, indicating that the LD50 of R. tinctorum root extract is higher than 2,000 mg.kg^-1. Furthermore, the aqueous extract increased red blood cell levels by 69.82 and 71.67 % in the groups treated with 200 and 400 mg.kg^-1 of the extract, respectively. Besides, a significant increase in hemoglobin from 12.05 ± 0.15 to 12.9 ± 0.52 g.dL^-1 was noted in rats treated with 400 mg.kg^-1 of extract. Thus, the data indicate that the root extract could be considered a natural source for the treatment of anaemia.