Susanta Kumar Rout, Durga Madhab Kar
The objective of this study is to investigate the sedative, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activities of different leaf extracts of Ipomoea carnea. Materials and methods: The sedative effect of the different leaf extracts at dose level 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg was evaluated in mice and rats using phenobarbitone induced sleeping time and hole board models. Its anxiolytic effect was evaluated using the Evaluated Plus Maze (EPM) and the Y maze (YM) methods. The anticonvulsant activity was evaluated in mice and rats using the strychnine, picrotoxin and MES-induced seizure models. The acute toxicity studies and phytochemical analysis of the extract were also carried out. Results: The methanolic and aqueous extracts ) produced significant (P < 0.01) reduction in the time of onset of sleep induced by phenobarbitone. The prolongation of phenobarbitone sleeping time by the extract (200 mg/kg) was comparable to that produced by diazepam (4 mg/kg). At doses of 100–400 mg/kg, the extract produced a dose dependent decrease in exploratory activity of the mice. The reduction in exploratory activity produced by the extract (400 mg/kg) was greater than that of chlorpromazine. The results obtained from the experiments indicate that the extract has central nervous system depressant and anxiolytic activities. In anxiolytic effect the extracts showed dose dependent prolongation of the cumulative time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and Y maze compared with the control. It also produced a significant (P < 0.01) dose dependent increase in onset of convulsion compared to the control for strychnine, picrotoxin and MES -induced seizures. The LD50 obtained for the acute toxicity studies using oral route of administration was 3000 mg/kg respectively. Conclusion: These findings justify the use of Ipomoea carnea in traditional medicine for the management of convulsion and psychosis.
