CNS activity of ethyl acetate extract of stem bark of Dodonaea viscosa Linn.

The major extensively recommended treatments for anxiety and insomnia disorders are the benzodiazepines; yet, they have protuberant side effects. Consequently, the progress of new pharmacological agents is well acknowledged and so it is now contemporary to search some safe and effective alternative medicine. The current study is aimed to investigate the CNS effect of the stem bark of Dodonaea viscosa in experimental animal models. Preliminary phyto-chemical screening and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) of the ethyl acetate extract of stem bark of Dodonaea viscosa (EAEDV) were performed. Acute oral toxicity study was performed as per OECD 423 guidelines. The CNS effects were evaluated using Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and phenobarbitone induced sleeping time using Diazepam (2 mg/kg) as the standard. Phyto-chemical analysis reflects the presence of flavanoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and tannins. The TLC studies confirmed that the isolated compound was found to be quercetin. Mortality and sign of any toxicity were not observed up to the dose orally with 2000 mg/kg. For all the statistical tests performed, p<0.05 is considered to be significant. In EPM, 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg of EAEDV produced significant p< 0.0005, p<0.0001 anti-anxiety effect respectively compared to control group and the activity was similar to that of diazepam. In addition, the extract significantly potentiated the phenobarbitone induced sleeping time.