ATTENUATION OF STRESS INDUCED URINARY BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES AND SCOPOLAMINE-INDUCED MEMORY LOSS BY HYDROALCOHOLIC SEED EXTRACT OF CELASTRUS PANICULATUS WILLD. IN RAT MODEL

Abstract

Ayurveda uses seeds of Celastrus paniculatus to treat various stress related disorders. In the present investigation, the hydroalcoholic seed extract of C. paniculatus was evaluated for anti-stress activity by forced swim stress model. Vanillylmandelic acid and ascorbic acid were selected as non-invasive biomarkers to assess the anti-stress activity. Nootropic activity in rats was evaluated by conditioned avoidance response using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus, the antioxidant potential was determined based on the ability of the extract to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. Pretreatment with the extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the stress induced urinary biochemical levels. The cognition was observed to be dose dependent. The extract also produced significant dose dependent inhibition of hydroxyl radicals. The present study provides scientific support for the anti-stress, antioxidant and nootropic activities of hydroalcoholic seed extract of C. paniculatus and substantiates the traditional claims for the usage of C. paniculatus willd. in stress induced disorders.