title: Clitoria ternatea and the CNS.
abstract: The present investigation was aimed at determining the spectrum of activity of the methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea (CT) on the CNS. The CT was studied for its effect on cognitive behavior, anxiety, depression, stress and convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximum electroshock (MES). To explain these effects, the effect of CT was also studied on behavior mediated by dopamine (DA), noradrenaline, serotonin and acetylcholine. The extract decreased time required to occupy the central platform (transfer latency, TL) in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and increased discrimination index in the object recognition test, indicating nootropic activity. The extract was more active in the object recognition test than in the EPM. The extract increased occupancy in the open arm of EPM by 160% and in the lit box of the light/dark exploration test by 157%, indicating its anxiolytic activity. It decreased the duration of immobility in tail suspension test (suggesting its antidepressant activity), reduced stress-induced ulcers and reduced the convulsing action of PTZ and MES. The extract exhibited tendency to reduce the intensity of behavior mediated via serotonin and acetylcholine. The effect on DA- and noradrenaline-mediated behavior was not significant. In conclusion, the extract was found to possess nootropic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant and antistress activity. Further studies are necessary to isolate the active principle responsible for the activities and to understand its mode of action.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Laboratory, MVP Samaj's College of Pharmacy, Nashik 422 002, India.
authors.forename: Neeti N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ohal
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shroff
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bhutada
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Somani
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Kasture
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kasture
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031292:Clitoria; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts