Evaluation of In-vivo Neuropharmacological Effect of Sarcochlamys pulcherrima Leaf Extract in Animal Model

Aim: To evaluate in-vivo neuropharmacological effect of methanolic leaf extract of S. pulcherrima in animal model.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, International Islamic University Chittagong, during the period between September 2013 and April 2014.

Methodology: Neuropharmacological activity of crude methanolic extract of S. pulcherrima leaf was determined by using standard animal behavioral models. Such as hole cross test and open field test for exploratory activity, thiopental sodium induced sleeping times tests for sedative activity and elevated plus maze test for anxiolytic activity.

Results: Methanolic leaf extract of S. pulcherrima showed a significant dose dependent suppression of exploratory activity of swiss albino mice in hole cross and open field test respectively at both dose which is 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg (P<0.05). In the case of thiopental sodium induced hypnosis test, methanolic leaf extract exhibited significant sedative activity at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses respectively (P<0.05). At 400 mg/kg dose, significant anxiolytic activity was demonstrated by methanolic leaf extract of S. pulcherrima in elevated plus maze test (P<0.05). The results of this study exhibited that methanolic extract of S. pulcherrima leaf contains significant exploratory, sedative as well as medium anxiolytic activity.