Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Dactylorhiza Hatagirea Roots & Lavandula Stoechas Flower on Thiopental Sodium Induced Hypnosis in Mice

Abstract

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo belongs to the family orchidaceae. The plant is native and near endemic to Indian Himalayan region.  Its distribution extends to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. In India, it is reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The Juice extracted from tuber is used as tonic and also used for the treatment of pyorrhea (inflammation of the gum & teeth). Root paste is externally applied as poultice on cuts and wounds and extract is given in intestinal disorders. Lavandula stoechas, the Spanish lavender or topped lavender or French lavender is a species of flowering plant in the family lamiaceae, ccurring naturally in several Mediterranean countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. It is used commercially in air fresheners and insecticides. Flower spikes have been used internally for headaches, irritability, feverish colds and nausea and externally for wounds, rheumatic pain, antiseptic, digestive, antispasmodic, healing, insect repellent and antibacterial. The neuropharmacological activities were examined by thiopental sodium induced sleeping time in mice at the doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg p.o body weight. All the extracts exhibited significant reduction of onset and duration of sleep in thiopental sodium induced sleeping time test. Altogether, these results suggest that experimental hydroalcoholic extracts of D. hatagirea roots & L. stoechas flower possesses potent hypnotic properties, which support its use in traditional medicine. Keywords: Dactylorhiza hata, Lavandula stoechas, Sleeping time test, Thiopental sodium