Sedative & anxiolytic studies of Capparis Zeylanica Linn. root extract

Abstract

HPTLC study confirms the presence of stigmasterol (0.51 ± 0.02 % w/w) and stachydrine (0.161 ± 0.01 % w/w) in ethanolic Capparis Zeylanica root extract (EECZ). The sedative effect of the EECZ (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated using pentobarbitone-induced sleep and exploratory board tests while the anxiolytic effect was evaluated at the same dose levels, using elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT) and light and dark box shuttle tests. EECZ produced significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent sedative effect indicated by shortened onset and prolonged duration of sleep in pentobarbitone-induced sleep test. EECZ produced dose-dependent anxiolytic effect indicated by significant (p < 0.05-0.001) increase in time spent in the open arm and shortened time spent in the closed arm of EPM. EECZ produced dose- dependent anxiolytic activity indicated by significant (p < 0.05-0.001) decrease in the time spent in periphery, freezing and number of fecal bolus with increased time spent in the center of the open field arena. The time spent in brightly lit compartment of the dark-light box was also significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) and dose-dependently increased. The present results showed that EECZ possesses sedative and anxiolytic effects which may be due to the present constituents and thus may be developed as a safe alternative for the therapeutic management of neuropsychiatric disorders. © 2013 Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University.