Evaluation of Abelmoschus moschatus seed extract in psychiatric and neurological disorders

Background: Abelmoschus moschatus is an aromatic and medicinal plant, used as traditional medicine in the Thirunelveli district and distributed in many parts of Asia, including India. The present study was aimed to evaluate central nervous system (CNS) activities of ethanolic seed extract of A. moschatus (AEAM). Methods: Oral administration of AEAM at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg on various behavioral models forced swim, tail suspension, light-dark box, hole-board, elevated-plus-maze, locomotor, strychnine, maximal electroshock induced seizure, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), rotarod, climbing an inclined screen models were utilized. Results: In the open field test, AEAM (200 and 400 mg/kg) increased the numbers of rearing. However, the number of central motor and ambulation were reduced. The number of entries and the time spent in the open arm were increased, whereas the number of locomotion was decreased (p