Effect of NR-ANX-C (a polyherbal formulation) on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice.
OBJECTIVE
Use of typical antipsychotics like haloperidol in treatment of schizophrenia is associated with a high incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. In rodents, administration of haloperidol leads to the development of a behavioural state called catalepsy, in which the animal is not able to correct an externally imposed posture. In the present study we evaluated the anticataleptic efficacy of NR-ANX-C, a polyherbal formulation containing bioactives of Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, Camellia sinensis, triphala and shilajit in haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice.


METHODS
Five groups (n = 6) of male albino mice were used in the study. Catalepsy was induced by ip administration of haloperidol (1mg/kg). The degree of catalepsy (cataleptic score) was measured as the time the animal maintained an imposed posture. We compared the anticataleptic efficacy of NR-ANX-C (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) with scopolamine (1 mg/kg). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in brain tissue was also estimated to correlate the levels of oxidative stress and degree of catalepsy in the animal.


RESULTS
Significant (P<0.01) reduction in the cataleptic scores was observed in all NR-ANX-C treated groups and maximum reduction was observed in the NR-ANX-C (25 mg/kg) treated group. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in SOD activity was observed in NR-ANX-C (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated groups and maximum reduction was observed in NR-ANX-C (25mg/kg) treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, maximum reduction in cataleptic score was observed in NR-ANX-C (25 mg/kg) treated group. The maximum reduction in SOD activity was also observed in the same group. These findings suggest a possible involvement of the antioxidant potential of NRANX- C in alleviating haloperidol induced catalepsy.
Nair
Vinod
V
Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India. vinodnair@hotmail.com
Arjuman
Albina
A
Dorababu
P
P
Gopalakrishna
H N
HN
Chakradhar Rao
U
U
Mohan
Lalit
L
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031339:Ocimum / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032341:Withania / Q000737:chemistry
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C528638:NR-ANX-C; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012601:Scopolamine; D006220:Haloperidol