title: Neuropharmacological activities of Taxus wallichiana bark in Swiss albino mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The bark of Taxus wallichiana is widely used for preparing a decoction and consumed as a tea by several tribal communities of the Indian subcontinent. The sedative, motor coordination, anxiolytic, and antidepressant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of T. wallichiana bark and its ethylacetate fraction were evaluated in mice models of behavior analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects were evaluated on diazepam-induced sleeping time, elevated plus maze and light and dark box, and on the forced swimming test. General locomotor activity and motor coordination effects were evaluated in the actophotmeter and rota-rod tests respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, followed by post-hoc Dunnett's test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 were considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the hydroalcoholic extract and ethylacetate fraction showed a marked decrease in latency of sleep onset, prolonged the diazepam-induced sleeping time, decreased spontaneous locomotor activity; whereas ethylacetate fraction produced anxiolytic and antidepressant activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both hydroalcoholic extract and its ethylacetate fraction of the bark of T. wallichiana have bioactive principles, which induce neuropharmacological changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Hitender
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Munish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020946:Taxus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003975:Diazepam
keywords: Bark; Swiss albino mice; Taxaceae; Taxus wallichiana; behavioral study; hydroalcoholic extract