EVALUATION OF PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECT OF CASSIA SOPHERA LINN LEAVES EXTRACTS

Abstract

Instroduction: Cassia sophera Linn (C. sophera) is a medicinally important plant belonging to the family of Caesalpiniaceae. The whole part of the plant is used as traditional folk medicine and is reported to possess analgesic, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antiasthmatic activity. Materials and Methods: Eddy’s hot plate and Analgesiometer tests were used to asses the antinociceptive activity of Cassia sophera. Pentobarbitone narcosis potentiation test was used to evaluate the hypnotic and sedative effect, while anticonvulsant activity was evaluated by Maximum electroshock-induced seizure test and Pentylenetetrazol induced seizure test. Results and Discussion: Test drug (440 mg/kg) produced significant analgesia, potentiated the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time and exhibited anticonvulsant effect against hind limb tonic extension phase of maximum electroshock-induced seizure test and seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol. Conclusion: The preliminary screening of seed extract of Cassia sophera, Linn. exhibited analgesic, anticonvulsant effects and potentiated pentobarbitone sleeping time. The ethanol extract of seed of Cassia sophera, Linn. deserves further investigation to elucidate the mechanisms of action.