title: Anti-Psychotic Activity of Aqueous Root Extract of Hemidesmus indicus: A Time Bound Study in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychosis is a neurological disorder, which is usually defined as the &amp;quot;loss of contact with reality.&amp;quot; As medicine 'Hemidesmusindicus' holds a reputed place in all systems of medicine in India. It is given in the form of infusion, fine particles, or syrup. It is also a component of several medicinal preparations. The present research work is pertaining to find out an anti-psychotic activity of an aqueous root extract of Hemidesmusindicus- a time bound study in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the dried roots of Hemidesmusindicus were crushed to a coarse powder and extracted with water under reflux for 36 hours to obtain the aqueous extract of roots of Hemidesmusindicus (AERHI). The extract was reconstituted in 2% aqueous tragacanth just before use and administered orally at a dose 0f 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. In a single dose study, the parameters were assessed after oral administration of the single dose of the AERHI, whereas in a multiple dose study, the animals daily received the suitable oral dose of the AERHI for a period of 30 days. The parameters were assessed on the 15th and 30th day. The antipsychotic activity was screened using Apomorphine induced Stereotyped behavior in rats and Haloperidol induced catalepsy models were used. In Apomorphine induced Stereotyped behavior inhibition of the Stereotyped behavior was considered to be anti-psychotic activity and in Haloperidol induced catalepsy, we observed whether the AERHI potentate or attenuate the catalepsy in rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the extract of Hemidesmusindicus significantly inhibited the stereotyped behavior induced by apomorphine in rats and also potentiate the catalepsy induced by haloperidol, thereby showing its anti-psychotic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All these observations imply that Hemidesmusindicus extract possesses anti-psychotic activity in experimental animals.
authors.affiliation: East West College of Pharmacy, Off Magadi Road, Bangalore - 560091, India.
authors.forename: Ashwathanarayana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madhu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Jaipur National University, Delhi-Agra bypass, Jagatpura 302017, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: East West College of Pharmacy, Off Magadi Road, Bangalore - 560091, India.
authors.forename: Bharati
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arali
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Dinesh K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chellappan
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006220:Haloperidol; D031102:Hemidesmus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006220:Haloperidol
keywords: Catalepsy; Hemidesmusindicus; anti-psychotic; aqueous root extract; catalepsy.
  ; stereotyped behavior