Evaluation of the central depressant activity of Jadwar (<i>Delphinium denudatum </i>Wall.) in<b> </b>mice

Abstract

In Unani medicine, Jadwar (<i>Delphinium denudatum </i>Wall.) is reputed for its beneficial effects in various neurological disorders. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the central depressant activity of the aqueous extract of <i>Delphinium denudatum </i>(Dd) in mice, using various experimental paradigms of depression viz. pentobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis (PSH), spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and open- field behaviour (OFB) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose (2000 mg/kg) administration of Dd had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract of Dd was administered orally at different dose levels. Dd extract (200-1600 mg/kg, orally) showed significant depressant effects on all the paradigms of depression. The results indicate that Dd induced a significant increase in sleeping time of pantobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis. In SMA test, significant decrease was observed in activity counts on photoactometer readings. In OFB test, there was significant decrease in openfield ambulation, sniffing, defecation and slight decrease in preening whereas rearing remained unchanged. The Dd extract showed consistent and significant depressant activity in all the tests. The effects induced by aqueous extract of Dd were less marked at lower dose than at higher dose.