Neuropharmacological evaluation of sedative and muscle relaxant properties of Raphanus caudatus in albino mice

Abstract

In present days vegetables and fruits provided by nature are underutilized and underestimated. Raphanus caudatus is one of an ignored vegetable belonging to radish plant because it is not only underutilized by the population but also the researches had not focused to identify its phytochemical as well as pharmacological potential. The present study was designed with the aim to evaluate sedative and muscle relaxant properties of ethanol extract of Raphanus caudatus in a mouse model. In the current study, the effects of ethanol extract of Raphanus caudatus were observed on general performance and behavioral changes of mice. Moreover, sedative and muscle relaxant properties of the extract were evaluated at three different doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) in the mouse model using phenobarbitone induced sleeping time and rotarod test respectively. The extract at highest tested dose i.e. 1000 mg/kg produced significant (p < 0.05) sedative action. However, the extract was observed to be lacking in muscle relaxant properties at any of tested dose in mice up to 60 days post-treatment. The study shows that ethanol extract of Raphanus caudatus possess sedative neuro-pharmacological potential and may possibly be used as a valuable source of bioactive constituents with psychosedative properties.