Effect of root-extracts of Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) in memory, anxiety, muscle co-ordination and seizure in animal models.
BACKGROUND
Ficus benghalensis L. (Banyan) is a commonly found tree in Eastern Nepal. Its different plant parts are used for various neurological ailments. This study was performed in mice to see its effects in various neuropharmacological parameters.


METHODS
Passive-avoidance (memory), Open-field (anxiety), Pentobarbital-induced Sleep potentiation (sleep), Rota-rod (muscle-co-ordination), Pentylenetetrazol-Induced and Maximal Electroshock Seizure Tests were performed. Sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.2. Aqueous root extracts (Soxhlet method) of Ficus benghalensis 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with negative and positive controls were used. The experimental results were represented as Mean ± SD. P-value was set at <0.05. Oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Mann-Whitney U test was appropriately used.


RESULTS
Passive-avoidance test showed 200 mg/kg group spent significantly less. Time (0.00s + 0.00s) in shock-zone than Normal Saline-group (9.67 s + 14.36 s, P = 0.000) or Diazepam-group (41.07 s + 88.24 s, P = 0.000). Open-field test showed 200 mg/kg group spent significantly longer Time (24.77 s + 12.23 s) in central-square than either Normal Saline group (15.08 s + 6.81 s, P = 0.000) or Diazepam-group (15.32 s + 5.12 s, P = 0.000). In Rota-rod test, 200 mg/kg group fell off the rod significantly (P = 0.000) earlier (33.01 s + 43.61 s) than both Normal Saline (>120 s) and Diazepam (62.07 s + 43.83 s) PTZ model showed that 100 mg/kg significantly (P = 0.004) delayed seizure-onset (184.40s + 36.36 s) compared to Normal Saline (101.79 s + 22.81 s), however, in MES model 200 mg/kg significantly (P = 0.000) prolonged tonic hind-limb extension (17.57 s + 2.15 s) compared to Normal Saline (13.55 s + 2.75 s) or Phenytoin (00.00s + 00.00s).


CONCLUSIONS
Aerial roots of Ficus benghalensis have memory-enhancing, anxiolytic, musclerelaxant, and seizure-modifying effect.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal. Dipesh.pandey@bpkihs.edu.
Dipesh Raj
DR
Panday
Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal.
G P
GP
Rauniar
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts
Ficus benghalensis L; Nepal; Neuropharmacological parameters; Open-field test; Passive-avoidance test; Pentobarbital-induced Sleep potentiation test; Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizure Test. Rota-rod test