Effect of NR-ANX-C (a polyherbal formulation) on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:

Use of typical antipsychotics like haloperidol in treatment of schizophrenia is associated with a high incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. In rodents, administration of haloperidol leads to the development of a behavioural state called catalepsy, in which the animal is not able to correct an externally imposed posture. In the present study we evaluated the anticataleptic efficacy of NR-ANX-C, a polyherbal formulation containing bioactives of Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, Camellia sinensis, triphala and shilajit in haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice.

METHODS:

Five groups (n = 6) of male albino mice were used in the study. Catalepsy was induced by ip administration of haloperidol (1mg/kg). The degree of catalepsy (cataleptic score) was measured as the time the animal maintained an imposed posture. We compared the anticataleptic efficacy of NR-ANX-C (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) with scopolamine (1 mg/kg). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in brain tissue was also estimated to correlate the levels of oxidative stress and degree of catalepsy in the animal.

RESULTS:

Significant (P<0.01) reduction in the cataleptic scores was observed in all NR-ANX-C treated groups and maximum reduction was observed in the NR-ANX-C (25 mg/kg) treated group. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in SOD activity was observed in NR-ANX-C (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated groups and maximum reduction was observed in NR-ANX-C (25mg/kg) treated group.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION:

In our study, maximum reduction in cataleptic score was observed in NR-ANX-C (25 mg/kg) treated group. The maximum reduction in SOD activity was also observed in the same group. These findings suggest a possible involvement of the antioxidant potential of NRANX- C in alleviating haloperidol induced catalepsy.

• Authors: Vinod Nair, Albina Arjuman, P Dorababu, H N Gopalakrishna, U Chakradhar Rao, Lalit Mohan
• Journal: The Indian journal of medical research (Indian J Med Res) Vol. 126 Issue 5 Pg. 480-4 (Nov 2007) ISSN: 0971-5916 [Print] India
• PMID: 18160755 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Cholinergic Antagonists
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• NR-ANX-C
• Plant Extracts
• Plant Preparations
• Scopolamine
• Haloperidol

Topics

• Animals
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects)
• Camellia sinensis (chemistry)
• Catalepsy (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Cholinergic Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Haloperidol (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Ocimum (chemistry)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Plant Preparations (therapeutic use)
• Scopolamine (therapeutic use)
• Withania (chemistry)