Abstract

EFFECT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS LEAVES AGAINST AGGRESSION IN MICE, AND ITS ACUTE TOXICITY PROFILE

Shalini Tripathi, Falgun Wanganuji Bansode, Rama Kant Singh* and Pushpendra Tripathi

Abstract

Predatory and affective aggression garners support as a classification system from clinical, social, biopsychological and forensic databases. Different parts of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. (Family- Apocynacea) have been traditionally used as an ethno medicine in Ayurvedic system for a number of disorders including laxative, antipyretic, fever, leprosy, skin diseases, and asthma. This study was aimed to evaluate antiaggressive/antidepressant activities of Alstonia scholaris (AS) leaves extract and its acute toxicity profile including haematological/histopathological aspects. Mice were randomly divided into four groups (Gr.) consisting of 6 animals each. Gr. I animals treated with saline(10ml/kg body weight) served as control, Gr. II and III treated with leases extract of AS (250 and 500mg/kg body weight, p.o. respectively) and Gr. IV mice administered Standard drug- Diazepam (2mg/kg, i.p.) for three consecutive days. The different test models such as Isolation-induced aggression, Resident-intruder aggression, Open field test and Water competition test were carried out. In addition, acute toxicity studies which included haematological and histopathological aspects were studied in 14 days treatment of AS extract. The results demonstrate significant antiaggressive activity of AS extract in experimental mice. There were no signs of toxic evident. The body and organ weights, histopathology and hematological parameters were found to be normal in treated animals. HPTLC analysis indicated the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, steroids and saponins as the active chemical constituents.

Keywords: Antiaggressive, Isolation-Induced Aggression, Resident-Intruder Aggression, Open Field Test, Acute toxicity profile.