Evaluation of n-hexane extract of Viola betonicifolia for its neuropharmacological properties

Abstract

Viola betonicifolia (whole plant) has been used as a sedative and in various nervous disorders in Pakistani traditional medicines. The n-hexane extract of the whole plant of V. betonicifolia (HEVB) was investigated for neuropharmacological properties such as anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, sleep induction, antidepressant and sedative to ascertain its folk use. Anxiolytic activity was tested using the staircase test, while the muscle relaxing property of the extract was tested in various muscle relaxant paradigms, i.e. chimney test, traction test, rota rod and inclined plane. In anxiolytic and muscle relaxant tests, HEVB (0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 g/kg, i.p.), diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or distilled water (10 ml/kg i.p.) were administered 30, 60 and 90 min before performing the tests in mice. HEVB was also screened for a sleep-inducing effect. The antidepressant activity was determined by using the forced swimming test (FST), while line crossing in a special box was used for locomotor activity. HEVB showed a significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent anxiolytic action in the staircase test. In muscle relaxant paradigms, a dose-dependent muscle relaxation was observed. For the phenobarbitone sleep induction test, HEVB notably (P < 0.05) reduced the latency time and increased the total sleeping duration. However, HEVB was devoid of any antidepressant activity, while the movements of mice were reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in locomotor activity. The results suggest that HEVB has anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, sleep-inducing (sedative) activity and, thus, provides pharmacological justification for the use of this plant as a sedative and for the relief of various nervous disorders.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Peripheral Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Divalent Metal Complexes of Indomethacin

“…The level of lipoxygenase products may also increase in peritoneal fluids. 30,31 These prostaglandin and lipoxygenase products cause inflammation and pain by increasing capillary permeability. 29 Significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions by indomethacin metal complexes strongly suggests that the mechanism of analgesic actions of metal complexes are linked to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in the peripheral tissues, thereby reducing PGE2 and PGF2α synthesis.…”

Antidepressant activity of methanol root bark extract of <i>Securinega virosa</i> (Ex Willd.) Baill in albino mice

“…The behav et al, 2008a;Allen, 2011) and analgesic (Magaji et al, 2008b) of the methanol extract of S. virosa have previously been Depression affects 10-17% of the global population at some point in life, resulting in enormous personal suffering and economic loss (Ronald, 2014). It is associated with high risk of serious physical health problems (Martin and Hilary, 2012), but still remain a neglected problem in palliative care provisio much African countries (Marina et al, 2012 Depression is different from other types of psychiatric disorders like anxieties, thus it should not be confused as each require different treatment (Muhammad et al, 2013;Gadassi and Mor, 2016) Depression unlike anxiety has suicidal tendencies addition to the mode alterations. D affected around 300 million individuals globe (Calvo-Perxas et al, 2016;Brent, 2016;Filho al., 2016), and it keep rising outrageously community including Nigeria.…”

Antipyretic and anticonvulsant activity of n-hexane fraction of Viola betonicifolia

“…In our earlier studies, the crude methanolic extract as well as the subsequent solvent fraction of V. betonicifolia was tested for various pharmacological activities [5][6][7] . Regarding the phytochemical profile, the plant contains saponins, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, and phenolic compounds [5,7] .…”

“…Additionally, a new bioactive cinnamic acid derivative has also been isolated [8] . Recently we have published various pharmacological activities of n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia [6,9] . In the in vivo medals, the current study was designed to evaluate antipyretic and anticonvulsant activity of the n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia in yeast induced pyrexia test and pentylenetetrazol and strychnine induced convulsion test.…”