RESEARCH ARTICLE: EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF LEAF PARTS OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR TRISTIS LINN.

Sushil Pratap* and Dr. Neeraj Sharma

ABSTRACT

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. commonly known as Harsingar (English:Night Jasmine), is a well documented plant. The decoction of the leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. is widely used in Ayurvedic System of medicine for treatment of arthritis, fevers, various painful conditions and as a laxative. It is considered as an important plant that yields not only unique medicinal products but also has industrial importance. It has several medicinal properties such as anti-helminthic and antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, hepatoprotective, antileishmaniasis, anti-viral, antifungal, anti-pyretic, anti-histaminic, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial besides it is used as a laxative, in rheumatism, skin ailments and as a sedative. Moreover, none of the medications assessed in randomized controlled studies are effective in sciatica pain. NSAIDS are less than ideal as most of the NSAIDs are known to causes the gastric irritation, gastrointestinal ulceration reduces renal blood flow, platelet dysfunction, exacerbates asthma, allergic reactions and skin rashes. Sciatica pain requires chronic drug treatment and NSAIDs are not recommended for longterm administration. Nyctanthes arbor tristis is also called the “tree of sorrow”, because the flowers lose their brightness during daytime; the scientific name arbor-tristis also means “sad tree”. The flowers can be used as a source of yellow day for clothing. Similarly the animals treated with standard drug (Imipramine HCl, 15mg/kg) exhibited significant decrease in immobility time as expected. The p values for ethanol at 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg are 0.0008 and 0.0009 after 30 minutes, ethanol extract at 150mg/kg and 200mg/kg are 0.0003 and 0.0004 after 60 minutes.

Keywords: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, antidepressant activity, tail, suspension, glycoside, etc.