ANTI DEPRESSANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC EFFECT OF BUTEA FRONDOSA METHANOLIC SEEDS EXTRACT

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the extract of seeds of Butea frondosa, a medicinal herb. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on mice by formalin test method and significant percentage of inhibition of mice paw edema diameter was recorded at 500 mg/kg (23.5%) whereas Aspirin was used as a standard drug, showed 35.2% of inhibition at p<0.05. The extract of B. frondosa seeds was found to have some analgesic effects and were also observed in writhing test and formalin induced licking and biting test. The percentage of inhibition of writhes in respect to control was 41% and 30.8% at doses of 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg body weight of mice, respectively, whereas Aspirin (300mg/kg) effects were 71.9 %. Along with the above activities diuretic activity was also studied against Lasix (Furesamide 20mg/kg) and found weak results in comparison to negative control group. Anti-depressant and anxiolytic properties of B. frondosa extract was evaluated at 300 and 500 mg/kg doses in different neuropharmacological tests and Diazepam (2mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. The control group was treated with 0.5 ml saline orally. The results showed moderate anti-depressant activity in open field test, head dip test, rearing test, traction test, summing induced depression test, Y- maize and marble burying test. Present studies revealed that B. frondosa seed extract has an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-depressant and anxiolytic properties.