RESUMEN
The neuropharmacological activity of different doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg/p.o.) of petroleum ether (SIP), methanolic (SIM) and aqueous extract (SIA) obtained from Sphaeranthus indicus Linn were studied in mice. Sphaeranthus indicus was evaluated for its effect on motor coordination, locomotor activity, cognitive behavior, anxiety, haloperidol induced catalepsy, sodium nitrite induced respiratory arrest, hypoxic stress induced neurotoxicity and convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximum electroshock (MES). The SIP and SIM 200 and 400 mg/kg showed significant decrease in locomotor activity but no effect on motorcoordination. SIP, SIM and SIA 100 mg/kg showed significant anxiolytic activity. SIM 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/p.o. showed significant anticonvulsant activity. SIM 400 mg/kg/p.o. found to prolong haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice. SIM 100 and 200 mg/kg/p.o. significantly increases discrimination index in object recognition test. Moreover the SIP and SIM extracts also showed significant analgesic activity in hot plate method. The results suggest that the extract may possess sedative principles with anxiolytic activity, anticonvulsant activity and antistress activity.
RESUMEN
Ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Sphaeranthus indicus L was investigated for hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol induced liver damage. Various biochemical parameters were studied to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract. In serum total bilirubin, total protein, acid phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ‐Glutamyl transferase, Total Cholesterol and serum triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein were determined to assess the effect of the extract on the paracetamol induced hepatic damage. The study was also supported by histopathology of liver sections. Results of this study revealed that the markers in the animals treated with paracetamol recorded elevated concentration indicating severe hepatic damage by paracetamol, whereas the blood samples from the animals treated with ethanolic extract of roots showed significant reduction in the serum markers indicating the effect of the plant extract in restoring the normal functional ability of the hepatocytes. The dosage of extract of plant roots used was 200 & 300 mg/kg bodyweight of rat. The present study reveals that the ethanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus L 300mg/kg could afford a significant protection against paracetamol‐induced hepatocellular injury.