DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2018.7.4.1

Pages: 171-183

The present study was aimed to investigate ethanol and aqueous extracts of barks of Humboldtia vahliana Wight (Caesalpiniaceae) for various neuropharmacological activities, such as sedative and hypnotics, anticonvulsants, antianxiety and antidepressants with estimation of brain neurotransmitter level by using animal models. Extracts were obtained by continuous hot extraction using solvents with different polarities. Two doses (200, 400mg/kg) of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Humboldtia vahliana Wight was orally administered for one time to evaluate sleep latency and sleep time in Phenobarbitone Sodium induced sleep in mice, maximum electric shock induced seizure for the assessment of anticonvulsant activity where time duration of various phases in epilepsy were noted. Open field test for antianxiety activity, in which number square crossed with respect to cut off time and in forced swim test, immobility time duration was monitored for antidepressant activity. The extract which had highly significant effect was subjected to HPTLC study. After administration of extracts,