A Systematic Review on Neuro-Psychopharmacological effects of Celastrus paniculatus (Malkangani) Oil

Abstract

Herbal drugs are conventionally employed to treat various human ailments. Mental and nervous disorders are the serious public health challenge globally, particularly in developing countries. Psychotherapy does not meet proper therapeutic possibilities for most of the patients with neurological and psychological disorders but natural remedies are ultimate relief and therapeutic hope for such patients. Many synthetic medications for nervous disorders although helpful lead to poor patient compliance because of many unpleasant but unavoidable side effects. Therefore herbal therapy is being preferred over modern medical treatments. Much contemplation and so scope is drawn towards herbal panacea of many mental disorders. This session deals with a herbal drug, Malkangani whose seeds and seed oil are being used traditionally as a therapeutic regimen for various nervous disorders like anxiety, depression and as neuroprotective agent and memory enhancer. This topic also discusses about the pharmacognostic characters, phytochemistry and neuro-psychopharmacological effects of Malkangani oil. Malkangani oil or Jyothishmati oil obtained from Celastrus paniculatus, mentioned in Ayurveda as Tree of Life or Elixir of Life is one such drug which has been extensively used to treat various central nervous system disorders. The current review is an endeavor to summarize the information based on the utility of malkangani oil to treat various neurological and psychological disorders. Malkangani oil obtained from the dried seeds of Celastrus paniculatus belonging to Celastraceae family possess neuromodulating, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective, sedative, tranquilizing effect, anti-convulsant, anti-amnesic effect, anti-aging, antianxiety, antidepressant, learning and memory enhancing, nootropic, anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. The studies on various laboratory animals like mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys revealed the excellent effects of malkangani oil on the brain. Malkangani oil contain sesquiterpene alkaloids, evoninoate sesquiterpene alkaloids, polyalcohols and fatty acids as the major phytoconstituents including some mineral elements. The exact constituent responsible for CNS effects of malkangani oil is not yet found which can be explored in future researches.