CNS activities of Celesia coromandeliane Vahl. in mice

The dried extracts of aerial parts of Celesia coromandeliane Vahl. (Scrophulariaceae) were evaluated for CNS activities in mice. The methanol extract of aerial part of Celesia coromandeliane (MECC) was found to cause significant depression in general as well as exploratory behavioral profiles in mice. MECC showed reduction in muscle relaxant activity by 30 degrees inclined screen test, as well as potential remarkably the pentobarbitone sodium-, diazepam- and meprobamate-induced sleeping time of mice. The petroleum ether extract of aerial parts of Celesia coromandeliane (PECC) showed significant analgesic properties as evidenced by the significant reduction in the number of writhes and stretches induced in mice by 1.2% acetic acid solution. Pretreatment with PECC caused significant protection against strychnine- and leptazol-induced convulsions. All these results were compared with respective controls for the evaluation of significance. The presence of steroids in PECC and saponins in MECC might be responsible for respective CNS activities in mice.