The present study was designed to investigate anti anxiety effects of alcoholic and aqueous root extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum in mice. Mice were treated with the alcoholic or aqueous extract (100 or 300 mg/kg p.o.) 1 hr before subjecting the animals to various anxiety models. Anti anxiety activity was evaluated using elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark model (LDM) and open field test (OFT). In EPM, treatment with alcoholic and aqueous extracts increased the time spent in open arm and total locomotion time. In light dark model treatment with these extracts showed increase in time spent in light compartment and in Open field test treatment with these extracts increased the time spent in central compartment. These results suggest that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum possess anti anxiety activity. Introduction Cardiospermum halicacabum is a herbaceous climber widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It is found throughout the plains of India [1]. The whole plant, roots and leaves are traditionally used as anxiolytic and as anticonvulsant.The whole plant is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, laxative, refrigerant, stomachic and sudorific [2]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, chronic bronchitis and stiffness of the limbs and snakebite [3]. The leaves are rubefacient and used in the treatment of rheumatism [4]. A tea made from them is used in the treatment of itchy skin. Salted leaves are used as a poultice on swellings. The leaf juice has been used as a treatment for earache. The root is diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, laxative, and rubefacient. The plant was reported to possess antiulcer [5], Antiparasitic [6], antimalarial[7], antifilarial [8], and antipyretic activity [9]. Experimental pharmacological studies have shown analgesic, anti-inflammatory and vasodepressant activities of this plant.Tradition practitioners in India prescribe the whole plant Cardiospermum halicacabum without regard to any possible adverse effects in the view of its many uses [10]. In line with this the toxicological evaluation of Cardiospermum halicacabum revealed that the drug is safe and is not toxic up to 40g/kg in rats [11]. The root of this plant is widely used in Ayurveda formulations for the treatment of anxiety and epilepsy [10]. Hence present study was designed to evaluate anxiolytic activity of root extract of Cardiospermum halicacabum. Materials and Methods Plant materials and preparation of extractsPlant Material of Cardiospermum halicacabum roots were collected during July-august from the villages in and around Bangalore. The plant material was authenticated from Department of Botany, Bangalore University.Roots were dried at room temperature, crushed to powder and stored in a plastic container. The powdered material was successively extracted with petroleum ether and alcohol in soxhlet’s apparatus. Aqueous extract was prepared by maceration process with water for 72 hours. Each extract was concentrated by distilling off the solvent to obtain the crude extracts. The drug was extracted with each solvent till complete extraction is effected. The percentage yield of alcoholic and aqueous extract was found to be 12 and 2 % w/w respectively. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts were suspended in 4% gum acacia and were used to study the anxiolytic activity.AnimalsSwiss albino mice of either sex (18-20 g) procured from Bio. Need, Bangalore were maintained for 7 days in the animal house of P.E.S College of Pharmacy, Bangalore under standard conditions: temperature (24 ± 10 C), relative humidity (45-55%) and 12:12 light: dark cycle. The animals were fed with standard rat pellet and water ad libitum. The animals were allowed to acclimatize to laboratory conditions 48 h before the start of the experiment. Groups of 6 mice (18-24) were used in all sets of experiments. All the experiments were conducted after obtaining permission from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of PES College of
展开▼
