Saima Ahmed, Muhammad Asadullah.
Psychopharmacological activity; evaluation of the effectiveness of nux-vomica, reserpine, anacardium & chlorpromazine herbal medicines.
Professional Med J Jan ;19(2):264-9.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to screen some herbal medicine as psychotropic drugs those has strong modulating effect on brain and behavior. Material & methods: Herbal drug Reserpine, Nux- Vomica, Anacardium and Chlorpromazine with a wide range of pharmacological actions. In our present study, we evaluate the effectiveness of these drugs as Psychotropic agents and accessed by biochemical-parameters. Rats (weighing 180-250g) and Mice (22-32g) either sex were used in this study. One group was kept as control for drugs. Mice were kept under room temperature. Tap-water was allowed ad-Libitum. Animals were observed during and after 21 days. A tablet crushed in 10ml of water, 1cc was given. Screening method used was swimming induced-despair. Results: Among these, Strychnos Nux- Vomica has strong action on cholinergic system, CNS activity and observed as an antispasmodic. Rauwolfia serpentine is an active alkaloid particularly present in reserpine are used to treat essential hypertension and in certain neuropsychiatry disorders. It has sedative and tranquilizing effects, as it depletes catecholamine from the central nervous system. Keeping in view, the medicinal importance of these herbs, our present study was designed to screen these herbs as for CNS activity on Albino mice and rats.

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