SOME EFFECTS OF CASSIA-ITALICA ON THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN MICE

This work examines some effects of the crude ethanolic extract of the medicinal plant Cassia italica, given at single oral doses of 0.25, 0. 5 or 1 g kg(-1), on the central nervous system in mice. Several models of nociception have been used to examine the analgesic effect of the extract. HPLC fingerprinting of the extract was performed to ensure un iformity of the extract material used. In treated mice, the extract ca used dose-related inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constric tion, and in the formalin test of antinociception the extract reduced formalin-induced pain in the second (late) but not in the first (early ) phase of the pain. Treatment with the extract at doses of 0.5 and 1 g kg(-1) significantly increased the reaction time in the hot-plate an d warm-water tail-flick tests. Naloxone was ineffective in antagonizin g the analgesic effect of C. italica on tail-flick and abdominal const riction tears, possibly indicating that the effect occurs via non-opia te pathways. The C. italica extract caused slight dose-related impairm ent of motor control which was significant only at a dose of 1 g kg. T reatment at the three doses used did not affect the rectal temperature of normothermic mice, but was effective in significantly reducing the rectal temperature of hyperthermic rats, 0.5 and 1 h (but not 6 h) af ter administration of the extract at doses of 0.5 and 1 g kg(-1). The extract also produced progressive diminution in the ambulatory and tot al activity of treated mice for up to 2 h after administration. It is concluded that the crude ethanolic extract of C. italica has CNS depre ssant properties, manifested as antinociception and sedation.