CNS activity of the methanol extracts of Careya arborea in experimental animal model

Ramanathan Sambath Kumar,V Senthil,R Kanagasabi,R Nethaji,N Venkateswara Murthy,P Sivakumar,R Shanmuga Sundram

doi:10.3329/bjp.v3i1.821

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate central nervous system (CNS) activity of the methanol extract of barks of Careya arborea (Myrtaceae) in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats. General behavior, exploratory behavior, muscle relaxant activity and phenobarbitone sodium–induced sleeping time were studied. The results revealed that the methanol extract of barks of Careya arborea at 100 and 200 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in the spontaneous activity (general behavioral profile), remarkable decrease in exploratory behavioral pattern (Y–maze and head dip test), a reduction in muscle relaxant activity (rotarod and traction tests), and also significantly potentiated phenobarbitone sodium–induced sleeping time. The results suggest that methanol extract of Careya arborea exhibit CNS depressant activity in tested animal models.

Highlights

Careya arborea commonly known as wild guava belongs to the family Myrtaceae medium sized deciduous tree, dark grey exfoliating in thin strip of bark which is widely available in India, Sri Lanka, Malay and Peninsula
The methanol extract of C. arborea affected spontaneous activity, sound and touches responses at dose of 200 mg/kg and produced moderate or slight depression relating to awareness and alertness
The standard drug diazepam caused a significant depression of all these responses compared with the methanol extract of C. arborea

Summary

Introduction

Careya arborea commonly known as wild guava belongs to the family Myrtaceae medium sized deciduous tree, dark grey exfoliating in thin strip of bark which is widely available in India, Sri Lanka, Malay and Peninsula. Stem barks of C. arborea was traditionally used in the treatment of tumors, anthelmintic, bronchitis, epile-ptic fits, astringents, antidote to snake-venom and skin disease (Kirtikar and Basu, 1975). It was used as remedy for diarrhea, dysentery with bloody stools and ear pain. Antipyretic, leech repellent, fish poison and antivenin activities were reported in literature. The aqueous extract of fresh root bark used as fish poison. The tribal peoples of Kolli Hills of Tamil Nadu used the stem bark of the plant for the treatment of various tumor and liver disorders. Previous report from our laboratory showed hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant activity (Sambath Kumar et al, 2005a), antimicrobial and in vitro anti-oxidant activity (Sambath Kumar et al, 2006), anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity (Sambath Kumar et al, 2005b), anti-tumor and anti-oxidant activities of methanol extract of C. arborea (Sambath Kumar et al, 2008a) and N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis (Sambath Kumar, 2008b)

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