Histamine releasing activity of Carissa carandas roots (apocyaneceae)

Abstract

The roots of Carissa carandas L. known as Karaunda in Hindi are used in the treatment of helminthiasis (1). They are also used to assess the intensity of snake poisoning (2). Joshi and Boyce (3) have investigated the roots of another species Carissa congests and have reported the presence of glucoside. Since the roots of Carissa carandas are known to cause poisoning as a result of inadvertent contamination with other root material, it was decided to investigate the nature of the poisonous substance. In this report we have an evidence for the histamine liberating activity in the ethanol extract obtained from the roots.