Evaluation of neuropharmacological activity of petroleum ether, methanolic and aqueous extracts of flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus in mice

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 motor-coordination. 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.