ANALGESIC AND CNS DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS LEAVES

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible analgesic action & CNS (Central Nervous System) depressant effect of methanolic extracts of Alstonia scholaris (Family: Apocynaceae) leaves on animal model. The analgesic activity of the extracts of the plant was investigated for its peripheral pharmacological actions using acetic acid-induced writhing test in rats. The methanolic extracts of leaves of Alstonia scholaris at dose 200 mg/kg body weight, displayed 72.85% pain inhibition which was significant (p<0.001) compared to reference drug Indomethacin. CNS depressant activity was evaluated by observing the effects of the plant extracts on exploratory activity in rats using hole cross and open field method. The methanolic extracts of the plant was administered orally at dose 500 mg/kg- body weight to each rat and the movement of the rats through the hole from one chamber to another was observed. Here Diazepam was used as standard drug. The result was found statistically significant (p<0.01) compared to control group for the leaf extract of the plant that decreased the exploratory behavior of rats significantly. From the pharmacological point of view, A. scholaris appears to be a valuable plant which can be treated as analgesic and CNS depressant. Key Words: CNS-depressant, analgesic action, hole cross tests, writhing.