Neuropharmacological study of Argemone mexicana Linn

In the present study methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Argemone mexicana whole plant (Papaveraceae) were tested orally in swiss albino mice at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg b.w. for CNS related activities. Papaveraceae family is known to have CNS depressant activity, so A. mexicana was evaluated for CNS activities. Significant central and peripheral nociceptive activity was observed for both extracts. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extract have also showed significant decrease in motor activity and fall off time of animals on rotating rod, along with sedative effect by potentiating phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time. In the acute toxicity study, both extracts was found to be safe upto 2500 mg/kg b.w. These results suggested that methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Argemone mexicana show analgesic, anxiolytic and sedative effects.