Assessment of CNS depressant activity of Nypa Fruticans Wurmb fruit pulp

Abstract

Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Family: Arecaceae) or Nipa palm is locally known as “Golfol” in Bangladesh which is of great interest now for its multiple uses. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the CNS depressant activity of methanolic fruit pulp extract of N. fruticans (MNF) on Swiss albino mice model by following the standard protocol of the hole cross test at three different dosages (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) against the standard diazepam. Here, MNF extract showed maximum suppression of motor activity (only 3.40 ± 0.49 number of movements) at 600 mg / kg after 120 minutes (p< 0.05). Therefore, the current study's findings indicate potent and dose-dependent CNS depressing action of MNF extract which can be used as a new source for the development of novel sedative-hypnotic drug. However, further investigation is required to find out the responsible phytoconstituents for the CNS depressant activity of MNF.