Effect of Tylophora indica on Haloperidol Induced Catalepsy in Experimental Animal Models.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra is one of the major causes of this CNS disorder. Environmental toxins, genetical abnormalities, chemicals, drugs and oxidative stress are some of the pre-disposing factors for this neurological disorder. Currently available drugs for the treatment of this disorder are able to provide only symptomatic relief. Moreover their use is associated with lot of adverse effects. The importance of medicinal plants comes in this context. One of the established models for screening antiparkinsonian activity of a compound is haloperidol induced catalepsy in Swiss albino mice. In this research work, the indigenous medicinal plant Tylophora indica was used to screen its anticataleptic activity. The ethanolic extract of leaves of Tylophora indica [TIEE] at a dose of 300mg/kg/body weight was administered orally for ten days. One hour later Haloperidol [1 mg/ kg IP] was administered. The results indicate that administration of haloperidol significantly induced catalepsy in Swiss albino mice, which was significantly reversed by TIEE. The anticataleptic activity of Tylophora indica can be due to its free radical scavenging property or due to its effect on brain monoamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]