Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Madanaphala is an important drug used in Ayurveda and Siddha formulations. The botanical source of Madanaphala is Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tiruven. In the present study, the sedative activity of C. spinosa stem bark has been evaluated by studying the effect of the plant extracts on locomotor activity using an actophotometer, and anxiolytic activity involving several models including elevated plus maze and thiopentone sodium induced sleeping time. Alcohol (EECS) and aqueous (AECS) extracts of C. spinosa at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.001) reduced the spontaneous motor activity, whereas 400 mg/kg AECS, 200 and 400 mg/kg EECS significantly (P<0.001) increased the open arm occupancy and also increased the thiopentone sodium-induced sleeping time. The results were comparable with those of the standard sedative drug diazepam. It was concluded that the stem bark of C. spinosa possesses significant sedative activity.

Key words: actophotometer, Catunaregam spinosa, sedative activity