Neuropharmacological potential of Ceriscoides turgida (Roxb.) leaf and root in mice

Background Recently, medicinal plants have grabbed attention worldwide in the field of neurosciences for therapeutic intervention. Traditionally, Ceriscoides turgida is used to treat scorpion string, epilepsy, stomachache etc. Present study was designed to peruse neuropharmacological properties of leaf and root extract of C. turgida . Methods The neuropharmacological activities were examined by thiopental sodium induced sleeping time, hole cross, hole board and open field tests in mice at the doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight. Results All the extracts exhibited significant reduction of onset and duration of sleep in thiopental sodium induced sleeping time test. Besides, significant reduction of spontaneous locomotor and exploratory activities was found in both hole cross and open field test. Furthermore, both extracts also decreased the number of head dips by mice in hole-board test. Conclusion Altogether, these results suggest that experimental extracts of C. turgida possesses potent CNS depressant and hypnotic properties, which support its use in traditional medicine.