Abstract

EVALUATION OF NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM (LINN) LEAF EXTRACT

Raana Mahmood, Rahila Najam*, Ghazala H. Rizwani, Humera Khatoon

ABSTRACT

Cardiospermum halicacabum (Linn) is a herb of family Sapindaceae. It is mostly seen as weeds along roads and rivers. Cardiospermum halicacabum (Linn) is widely distributed in Africa and Asia. The mother tincture of homeopathic medicine is prepared from ethanolic extract of flowering buds of cardiospermum halicacabum. The aim of this study was to evaluate CNS activity of methanolic extract of cardiospermum halicacabum leaves on albino mice. CNS screening was conducted on two groups of twenty mice, one group of ten mice were on methanolic extract of cardiospermum halicacabum leaves dissolved in distilled water and the other group of ten mice were on equal amount of distilled water. CNS activity was assessed by using open field test, cage crossing, head dip test, light and dark box, stationary rod and forced swimming tests. Methanolic extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum leaves exhibited significant increase in locomotor and exploratory activity with memory enhancing effects and good coordination of muscles. Moreover, methanolic extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum leaves showed antianxiety and memory enhancing activity.

Keywords: Anti-anxiety, cardiospermum halicacabum, locomotor activity, Methanolic extract, memory.