Evaluation of psychopharmacological activity of ethyl acetate extract of Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb).Voigt

Herbal medicines are gaining growing interest because of their costeffective, ecofriendly attributes and true relief from disease condition. Sarcostemma acidum was documented in many folklore practices for various psychiatric conditions. It has been dealt with in detail in “SHRUSHRUTHA SAMHITHA”. Ethyl Acetate Extract of the whole plant Sarcostemma acidum (EASA) was evaluated for psychopharmacological effects, Anti Psychotic, Anxiolytic and CNS inhibitory activity. Anti psychotic effects of EASA was assessed by Condition Avoidance Response and cataleptic Scoring test using pole climbing and Bar test respectively. Elevated Plus maze (EPM) and Hole Board Apparatus (HBA) was employed for the anxiolytic activity while Actophotometer was used to assess the CNS inhibitory activity. EASA (650mg/kg), Haloperidol (5mg/kg) and 1% CMC was administered to the test, standard and control group respectively for Antipsychotic activity, while For Anxiolytic and CNS depressant studies test, standard and control group receive EASA (650mg/kg), Diazepam (2mg/kg) and 1% CMC respectively. It was found that EASA significantly enhance the latency period to climb the pole and the cataleptic score which indicates its suppression on CAR activity, which clearly confirms its Anti Psychotic activity, might be due to blockade of dopaminergic pathway. It was observed that EASA at a dose of 650mg/kg significantly increases the no: of entries in to the open arm in EPM as well as no: of head poking in HBA, which reflects its increase in exploratory behaviour which indicates the anxiolytic activity. Reduction in the loco motor activity in actophotometer indicates CNS depressant property of the drug.