Evaluation of Anxiolytic potential of various extracts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaves

Abstract

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz native to India referred to as Guletura is widely distributed in South India, and its leaves, flower, bark, and seeds are employed in Indian medicine. The plant contains many active elemental fractions like caesalpin-type diterpenoids, sitosterol, pulcherrimin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, myricetin, quercetin and rutin, flavonoids, carotenoids, glycosides, peltogynoids, phenols, and steroids. The current study was designed to gauge the anti-anxiety activity of varied extracts viz n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol of the leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima by using elevated plus maze (EPM) model in albino mice. Albino mice have ministered orally with different doses of the extracts (i.e. 200 and 400mg/kg) and behavior was observed on the EPM. Diazepam (2mg/kg, P.O) was used as a standard (positive control). Results indicate that the methanol extract of Caesalpinia leaves showed maximum and significant dose-dependent effect at 200 and 400mg/kg on EPM, the results were just like the standard antianxiety agent diazepam (2mg/kg). In the Actophoptometer model, two different doses of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (200 and 400mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent decrease within the locomotor activity, compared to the control animals. As the phytochemical screening of methanol extract exhibited the presence of polyphenols could be liable for the anxiolytic potential of C.pulcherrima. Hence this plant could also be developed as a potentially useful anti-anxiety agent.