EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CENTELLA ASIATICA ON MARBLE-BURYING BEHAVIOUR IN MICE 

ABSTRACT

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a wide spread disorder in about 2-3% of the population worldwide, 0.6% of Indians and the present effective treatment of OCD is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) demonstrate selective efficacy in any about 40-60 % of patient while 30 % of patients failing to respond to conventional treatment. The aim of study was the pre-clinical screening of anticompulsive effect by marble-burying model in mice. Study of marble-burying behaviour with locomotor activity in albino mice was carried out by specially designed model for anticompulsive activity and actophotometer for locomotor activity. For marble burying study, 7 groups (n=6) for control, test (50 and 100 mg/kg of aqueous and ethanolic extract) and standard drug (5 and 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine) while another 7 groups for control, test (50 and 100 mg/kg of aqueous and ethanolic extract) and standard drug (5 and 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine), of mice were used for locomotor activity. The data was analyzed by one way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett’s test (P < 0.01). The ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica (50 and 100 mg/kg) was found significant in dose dependently (p<0.01), reduced the number of marbles buried without affecting the motor activity. The aqueous extract (100 mg/kg) also reduced (P<0.01) the number of marbles buried with slight reduction (13%) in locomotor activity when compared with fluoxetine. The finding of this study cheap trx canada was suggested that ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica may significantly reduce anticompulsive behaviour comparable as fluoxetine.

Key words: Obsessive compulsive disorder, Fluoxetine, Marble-burying, Mandukaparni, Gotu kola.