Abstract
We describe different neuropharmacological effects of Verbena officinalis crude extract (Vo.Cr). Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures, elevated plus maze, light–dark box (LDB), open field and thiopental-induced sleeping test models were employed to evaluate Vo.Cr actions in mice. Vo.Cr dose-dependently (100–500 mg/Kg) delayed onset time of myoclonic jerks and tonic-clonic seizures, while decreased duration of tonic-clonic seizures (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 vs. saline group). Vo.Cr at 100 and 300–500 mg/Kg doses reduced animals’ mortality in PTZ-induced seizures test to 75 and 0%, respectively. Vo.Cr (50–300 mg/Kg) significantly increased time spent and number of entries into open arms, while decreased time spent and number of entries into closed arms (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001 vs. saline group), measured in elevated plus maze. Vo.Cr (50–300 mg/Kg) increased time spent in light compartment, while decreased time spent in dark compartment (P < 0.01, P < 0.001 vs. saline group) in LDB, like caused by diazepam. In open field test, Vo.Cr decreased number of ambulations and rearings frequencies, while increased the number of central squares crossings. In thiopental-induced sleeping test, Vo.Cr (50–300 mg/Kg) decreased onset time of sleep, while increased the duration of sleep (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001 vs. saline group). These results indicate that Verbena officinalis possess anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and sedative activities, which provides scientific background for its medicinal application in various neurological ailments, such as epilepsy, anxiety, and insomnia.
Highlights
Verbena officinalis is a perennial herb, belongs to family Verbenaceae, commonly known as “Vervian,” “Herb of grace,” “Pigeon’s grass” and localy “Karenta” or “Pamukh.” It mostly grows in Europe and Asia, commonly found in cultivated fields and wastelands near water and cultivated in Northern and Western areas of Pakistan (Jafri et al, 1974; Khan et al, 2015)
Vo.Cr at 50–300 mg/Kg increased time spent by animals in open arms, while decreased time spent in closed arms (Figure 2)
In Vo.Cr (50 mg/Kg) treated group, time spent in open arms increased to 51.75 ± 4.72 s while time spent in closed arms reduced to 176 ± 7.52 s (P < 0.01 vs. saline group)
Summary
Verbena officinalis is a perennial herb, belongs to family Verbenaceae, commonly known as “Vervian,” “Herb of grace,” “Pigeon’s grass” and localy “Karenta” or “Pamukh.” It mostly grows in Europe and Asia, commonly found in cultivated fields and wastelands near water and cultivated in Northern and Western areas of Pakistan (Jafri et al, 1974; Khan et al, 2015). The plant is reported to possess antitussive (Gui and Tang, 1985), analgesic, anti-inflammatory (Calvo, 2006), neuroprotective (Lai et al, 2006), Antiradical (Speroni et al, 2007), antioxidant, antifungal (López et al, 2008), antitumor (Kou et al, 2013), antibacterial (Mengiste et al, 2015), Antiproliferative (Encalada et al, 2015), and antidepressant (Kamal et al, 2015) activities In this investigation, we report anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and sedative actions of Verbena officinalis, which explains its ethno-medicinal use in neurological disorders
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