Pharmacological activity of Elaeocarpus sphaericus

Elaeocarpus sphaericus fruits are used in Ayurveda for mental diseases, epi lepsy, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases. Sequential petro leum ether (PE), benzene (BE), chloroform (CE), acetone (AE) and ethanol (E E) extracts (50-200 or 200 mg/kg, ip, or 200 mg/kg, po) of dried Elaeocarpu s sphaericus fruits, pretreatment time 30-45 min, showed significant antiin flammatory action against both acute and sub-acute models, analgesic, barbi turate-hypnosis potentiation and antiulcerogenic activities in rats. All th e extracts, except PE and EE decreased swim stress immobility in mice indic ating some degree of antidepressant activity. All the extracts protected gu inea-pigs against bronchospasm induced by histamine and acetylcholine aeros ols, Chemically, the extracts showed the presence of glycosides, steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.