PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING OF CYLISTA SCARIOSA ROXB. LEAVES IN MICE

Abstract

The aqueous and ethanolic exrracts of Cylista scariosa Roxb. leaves were evaluated for its psychopharmacological activities in several experimental models using swiss albino mice. Use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that aqueous (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, i.p) and ethanolic (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p) extracts of Cylista scariosa and standard drug diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p) increased the percentage of time and entries spent in open arms. Chronic treatment with the aqueous (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, i.p) and ethanolic (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p) extracts of Cylista scariosa leaves, were able to decrease the immobility time of mice to forced swim tests and the effects were comparable to that of standard drug imipramine (15 mg/kg, i.p). The mice treated intraperitoneally with reserpine (5 mg/kg) were submitted to increased catalepsy and tremors time. Treatment with aqueous (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, i.p) and ethanolic (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p) extracts of Cylista scariosa leaves antagonized the reserpine induced catalepsy and tremors time these effects comparable to standard drug Levodopa (150 mg/kg, i.p). All these results were compared with respective controls for the evaluation of significance. The presence of flavonoids, glycosids, tannins and L-dopa in the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cylista scariosa leaves might be responsible for anxiolytic, antidepressant and antiparkinsonian activity of Cylista scariosa extracts. Cylista scariosaextracts may have potential therapeutic value for the management of psychopharmacological disorders.Keywords: Cylista scariosa, Psychopharmacology, Antianxiety, Antidepressant, Antiparkinsonian.