Abstract

LOCAL ANAESTHETIC AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF VITEX NEGUNDO LEAVES

Venkatesan N, Natarajan P, Aarthi N, Ezhilarasi P, Alagar Raja A, Anantha Kumar A, Dhavamani A.M.

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the local anaesthetic and antidepressant activities of ethanol extract of Vitex negundo (VN) leaves as well its interaction with conventional local anaesthetic and antidepressant drugs using surface anaesthesia and locomotor activity in guinea pig and albino rats. The animals were divided in to four groups and administered the standard drug,control (saline) and test extract of vitex negundo. In surface anaesthesia, the guinea pig is used as the animal choice by using pricking method and administering the standard drug(Lignocaine 0.2%) by intradermal route. In antidepressant test of extract of VN (low dose-200 mg/kg; high dose- 400 mg/kg), activity, the albino rat is used as the animal choice by using actophotometer for locomotor activity and administering the standard drug CPZ by intraperitoneal route.

Keywords: VN-Vitex negundo; CPZ-Chlorpromazine.