• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2003

Water extract (kwath) of six different widely used Ayurvedic medicinal plants were tested in mice for possible neuropharmacological efficacy. In the present experiments it was observed that a number of plant tested causes a significant level of Central Nervous System (CNS) depression, in that it significantly decreased the spontaneous Motor activity, and also lowered the exploratory behavior of the treated animals. Terminalia chebula (HAA), Terminalia bellerica (BHA), Emblica officinalis (AA), Piper longum 1. (PP). exhibited depressant action of on the CNS. Apart from them a mild to moderate degree of depression was evident as a consequence of administration of Zingiber officinale Rosc (SUT), Piper nigrum L. (MRC). However, none of the plant tested did not exhibit significant effects on pentobarbital induced narcosis, and this indicated that the sedating effects of the drug was not associated with the risk of fatal consequences on overdose.