Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND NEUROPHARMA COLOGICAL STUDIES OF CAPPARIS ZEYLANICA ROOT BARK

Ramya Kuber Banoth* and Santhrani Thaakur

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate neuropharmacological activities of the alcoholic extract of Capparis zeylanica (CZ). The alcoholic extract was given at a dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg. Spontaneous motor activity, analgesia, grip strength, alertness, immobility period in forced swimming test and tail suspension test were analyzed. The extract at given doses significantly dose dependently decreased exploratory activity, spontaneous motor activity and swimming, climbing behavior in forced swimming test and did not alter other parameters. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of sterols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins and flavonoids. The results of the present study indicated that the alcoholic extract may have active constituents with CNS depressant activity and at the given doses it is devoid of memory impairment and neurotoxicity.

Keywords: Capparis zeylanica, neuropharmacological, CNS depressant, neurotoxicity, memory impairment, phytochemical.