Pharmacological studies of "Chaksini" [peristrophe bicalyculata nees] in relation to psychosomatic disorders

ABSTRACT

The drug Chaksini [Peristrophe bicalyculata Nees Family Acanthaceae] is a less known drug. It is used for different ailments especially in psychosomatic disorders in traditional system of medicine. The preliminary neuropharmacological screening of the drug has been done for this purpose. The gross behaviour, spontaneous motor activity, pentobarbitone sodium induced narcosis and supramaximally electric shock seizure tests were carried out. The results clearly indicated that the aqueous extract has CNS depressant activity. The effect is probably due to a water soluble glycoside present in the drug in good quantity