ANTI-ANXIETY ACTIVITY STUDIES OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF PULSATILLA NIGRICANS STOERCK
Abstract
Pulsatilla nigricans Stoerck (Ranunculaceae) has been traditionally used in nervousness, sadness, mild restlessness and mental unrest. Yet, the plant has never been subjected to systematic biological investigation. Therefore, the present investigation has been designed to evaluate anti-anxiety activity of P. nigricans. In the present investigation, petroleum ether (60-80°C), chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of P. nigricans aerial parts were evaluated for anti-anxiety activity in mice using elevated plus-maze apparatus. Among all the extracts, only methanol extract exhibited significant anti-anxiety activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg with respect to control as well as standard (diazepam, 2 mg/kg). As phytochemical screening of methanol extract showed presence of polyphenols, i.e., flavonoids and tannins, thus, these constituents might be responsible for anxiolytic potential of P. nigricans.
Keywords:
Pulsatilla nigricans, Ranunculaceae, Elevated plus maze, AnxietyDOI
https://doi.org/10.25004/IJPSDR.2010.020414References
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