Screening of Neuropharmacological Activities of Viscum album and Estimation of Major Flavonoid Constituents Using TLC Densitometry

Despite a long tradition of use in the treatment of mental disorders, Viscum album L. (Ujjral; family – Viscaceae) has not been systematically investigated to validate its traditional claims. The methanol extract of V. album aerial parts, its ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and 1-butanol fraction (BF) were screened for various neuropharmacological activities. The methanol extract, EAF and BF exhibited significant antianxiety activity comparable to the standard drug, diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) at the dose of 400, 10 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Only BF exhibited specific antidepressant activity using despair swim test at the dose of 50 mg/kg. The methanol extract (200 or 400 mg/kg), EAF (25 or 50 mg/kg) and BF (25 or 50 mg/kg) exerted mild antistress and analgesic effects, and exhibited significant hypnotic activity. The content of quercetin and apigenin was found to be 0.00452% and 0.00058% w/w, respectively, in V. album aerial parts.