ANXIOLYTIC -HYPNOTIC ACTIVITY OF WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT OF BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA
Boerhaavia diffusa has been recommended for relief of insomnia in Indian traditional medicine. However, no pharmacological studies have yet evaluated its anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. The aim of this study was to determine if Boerhaavia diffusa whole plant extract have anxiolytic-hypnotic activity. The methanol extract of Boerhaavia diffusa (200 & 400mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered to male albino mice, 30 minutes before pentobarbital injection (35 mg/kg). Methanol extract of Boerhaavia diffusa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg increased pentobarbital induced sleeping time compared to saline-treated group. The Methanol extract of whole plant of Boerhaavia diffusa possess anxiolytic-hypnotic activity. However, it is strongly suggested that the major active component(s) responsible for the hypnotic effect is mainly present in the methanolic extract .