Neuropharmacological studies on medicinal plants with specific reference to parkinsonism

Abstract

The folklore medicinal plants such as Nardostachys jatamansi DC and Smilax zeylanica Linn. were selected for the study. In this study we aimed to investigate the neuropharmacological effects of Nardostachys jatamansi and Smilax zeylanica on haloperidol administered rats. In addition we examined the antistress and antioxidant effects of Nardostachys jatamansi and Smilax zeylanica. newlineIn the present study we have taken ethanol, hydro alcohol and aqueous root extracts of Nardostachys jatamansi and ethanolic root extract of Smilax zeylanica to carryout phytochemical, HPTLC, in vitro antioxidant, toxicological, pharmacological, biochemical studies and to estimate brain dopamine levels. newlineThe preliminary phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, sterols, tannins, flavonoids, gums and mucilage, glycosides, saponins and terpenes in EENJ, alkaloids, carbohydrates, steroids, sterols, tannins, flavonoids, gums and mucilage, glycosides and terpenes in HAENJ and carbohydrates, steroids, sterols, flavonoids, gums and mucilage and terpenes, in AENJ. The EESZ demonstrated the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, phenols, flavonoids, gums and mucilage, and saponins. newlineThe HPTLC finger print of EENJ, HAENJ, AENJ and EESZ shows the various spots at different Rf Values from this we identified the no of constituents present in the each extract of the Nardostachys jatamansi and ethanol extract of Smilax zeylanica. newlineEENJ, HAENJ, AENJ and EESZ were subjected to in-vitro antioxidant activity studies using nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging models. EENJ and EESZ were showed moderate activity where as hydro alcoholic and aqueous extracts did not show at the tested range for nitric oxide scavenging, all the extracts showed potent antioxidant activity for scavenging of H2O2. newlineAcute oral toxicity study indicate these two plant extract were safe up to 5000 mg/kg and no mortality was observed. Repeated oral toxicity studies for 28 days also shows no considerable changes