Effect of Polysaccharides of Centella asiatica and Aegle marmalos on the Life Span of Artemia salina

Abstract

Centella asiatica (gotukola) and fruits of Aegle marmalos (Beli) are widely consumed in Sri Lanka as a vegetable, a fruit respectively, These two plants are used in ayurveda and indegenous medicinal system in Sri Lanka. Polysaccharides were isolated from the whole plants of Ciasiatica and ripe fruits of A. Marmalos. The polysaccharides were purified using a polyamide column, The poysaccharides thus obtained were tested for the their bioactivity by the convenient and inexpensive brine shrimp method. The polysaccharides showed the ability to enhance the life span of A. salina, independently of any nutritional effect that they may have.