Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC EFFECT OF ALLIUM CEPA

Renu Kadian* and Milind Parle

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the antipsychotic effect of Allium cepa. Materials and Methods: The antipsychotic effect of the Allium cepa was evaluated on haloperidol induced catalepsy, cooks pole climbing apparatus, locomotor activity on actophotometer, ketamine induced stereotype behavior. Different groups of rats were fed orally with a specially prepared diet containing various concentrations of Allium cepa paste (ACP) for 30 days consecutively. Further, the biochemical estimations were done by estimating brain dopamine levels. Results: The ACP produced significant dose dependent potentiation of haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.) induced catalepsy in rats, significantly increased the time taken by the rat to climb the pole in dose dependent manner, significantly decreased the locomotor activity. The ACP significantly decreased ketamine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) induced stereotyped behavior in a dose dependent manner. ACP significantly decreased the brain dopamine level. Conclusion: The results suggest that ACP posse’s antipsychotic activity. Further neurochemical investigation can explore the mechanism of action of the plant drug with respect to anti-dopaminergic and anti serotoninergic functions and help to establish the plant as an antipsychotic agent.

Keywords: Anti-dopaminergic, catalepsy, stereotypy, ketamine.