Abstract

NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL STUDIES OF PITTOSPORUM FLORIBUNDUM WT. & ARN.

N. Yasodamma*, K. Naga Malleswari and C. Alekhya

ABSTRACT

Since ancient times drugs against neurological disorders are from plant source especially the herbs with alkaloidal source. Narcotic and sedative effect of the alkaloid phytoconstituents acts against neuropharmacological disorders. Pittosporum floribundum bark powder is used as narcotic and sedative drug against bronchial disorders, inflammations and arthritic pains, ulcerous problems, antidote to snake poison and also to cure skin infections. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies also correlated with the presence of alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and volatile oils. Bark extracts inhibited human pathogenic bacteria and fungi effectively to that of the standard drugs Ampicillin and Nystatin. During acute toxicity effects mortality was noticed at 1834.6 mg/kg b.wt as LD50 values with methanol and alcohol extracts and 1337.5 mg/ kg. b.wt with aqueous extracts in a single dose after 24 hrs of observation. Sub acute toxicity studies of bark extracts with daily dose at 25, 50, 75 mg/ kg b.wt upto 28days with aqueous, methanol and alcohol extracts observed without any toxic effects. Sedative effect starts after 30 minutes of treatment with alcohol, methanol and aqueous extracts at all doses and persists for 3.28 to 20.38 minutes. During acute toxicity studies from 600-2300 mg/kg b.wt sleep and sedation persists for 45 min. Effect on behavioral aspects like tremors and itching on face, nose, throat for a short period after every treatment. And also shown decreased on body and organ weight after 28 days of treatment at higher doses above 75 mg/kg b.wt and the rats also died after 28th day above 100 mg/kg b.wt. In the present study aqueous, methanol and alcohol extracts at sub acute doses were tested against sedative, depression, behavioural changes, antipyretic, memory retention, locomotor movement, effect on sleep and learning and proved as effective drug between 10-75 mg/kg b.wt as analgesic may be in reducing the secretion endogenous substances and minimizes the pain; increased learning activity by acting as anti anxiolytic drug may be due to the regulation of neurotransmitters showed effective anti depressant and sedative drug in improving the locomotor activity. Hence aqueous, methanol and alcohol extracts of bark may be recommended to isolate alkaloidal bioactive components and volatile oils to design drugs against Central Nervous System (CNS) to control neuropharmacological and behavioural disorders and also act as sedative and narcotic drug to treat patients at high risk.

Keywords: Alkaloids, lethal toxicity, sub lethal, sedative, narcotic, depression.