Anxiolytic and Anticonvulsant Activity of the Methanolic Extract of Flower of Mirabilis Jalapa

Medicinal plants have served as sources of readily accessible, inexpensive, and effective medication since the earliest times known to man. Several ethnomedicinal plants have been found to possess neurobehavioral profile and serve as alternative to modern medicine. Biological evaluation and scientific validation of the ethnomedicinal plants are the need of the hour. The present study on pharmacognosy of the Mirabalis jalapa Linn. provides useful information for quality control parameters for the crude drugs. The results of the present investigation are significant and encouraging towards the goal for future utilization and standardization of Mirabalis jalapa flower of this plants. The preliminary phytochemical studies were done in the Methanolic flower extract of Mirabalis jalapa, observed the presences of alkaloids, Carbohydrate, flavonoids, phenols, steroids,glycosides and tannins. It is the first evidence of the antianxiety and anticonvulsant properties of the Flower a of Mirabalis jalapa methanolic extract were effective against tonic seizure, and generalized seizure or myoclonus; these reults suggest more concentrated presence of flavonoids such as quercetin implicate major anticonvulsant response. Quercetin shows anticonvulsant effects (Nieoczym D [et al.], 2014). Quercetin also improved the spatial memory impairment and neuronal death induced by repeated cerebral ischemia (Pu F [et al.], 2007). It is the evidence of the Mirabalis jalapa extract containing flavonoids and phenolic chemical constituents (Aher A.N.[et al.] 2016). In the CNS several flavones bind to the benzodiazepine site on the GABA receptor resulting in sedation, anxiolytic or anti-convulsive effects. Flavonoids of several classes are inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A or B, thereby working as anti-depressants or to improve the conditions of Parkinson’s patients. Flavanols, flavanones and anthocyanidins have protective effects preventing inflammatory processes leading to nerve injury. Flavonoids seem capable of influencing health and mood. (Anna K. Jager and Lasse Saaby, 2011) Antianxiety activity (Diazepam): The present study shows that the methanolic extract of Mirabalis jalapa may function in a similar manner to BZD, it is possible that the antianxiety effects might be due to significant glycinergic and GABAergic potentiating mechanisms. These two acts as inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system and are associated with anxiety. The Mirabalis jalapa extracts might be inducing the release of these neurotransmitters and thus inhibiting the anxiety (Shelar M.K [et al.], 2018). On the basis of our result, we conclude that higher doses (400 mg/kg bwt) of ethanolic Flower extraction of Mirabilis jalapa showed significant anxiolytic action. MES (Phenytoin) and PTZ (Diazepam): Earlier reports on the chemical constituents of plants and their pharmacology suggest that plants containing flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and tannins possess activity against many CNS disorders (Bhatacharya [et al.], 1997). Investigations on the phytochemical screening of Mirabalis jalapa Flower revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, tannins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. It is possible that the mechanism of anxiolytic and anticonvulsant action of MEMJ could be mediated by these phytochemicals (Patil VP [et al.], 2017), (Mahendran.G [et al.], 2014). In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that flavonoids may pass the blood-brain barrier and have many effects on the central nervous system (Jager [et al.], 2011). Since the extract delayed the occurrence and decreased the duration of convulsions induced by PTZ (Diazepam) and MES (Phenytoin), it is possible that the anticonvulsant effects might be due to enhancement of glycinergic and GABA- mediated inhibition and/or inhibition of Ca2+ currents or blockade of glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by NMDA receptor; which is not tested in this study. However, we conclude that the methanolic extract of Mirabalis jalapa is a potent anticonvulsant action. (Shelar M.K [et al.], 2018). Mirabalis jalapa possesses muscle relaxant activity (Deepsikhabharali [et al.], 2017) and Neuroprotective activity of fractional flower extracts of Mirabilis jalapa Against aluminium hydrochloride induced neurotoxicity in male wister rats (Sitty Manohar Babu [et al.], 2017), Also supportive evidence of Mirabalis jalapa showing anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects and these findings collaborate with the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant. However, On the basis of our result, it may conclude that higher doses (400 mg/kg bwt) of methanolic flower extraction of Mirabilis jalapa showed significant anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity. It may be concluded that neuroprotective effects of Mirabilis jalapa due to the presence of tannins, phenolic compounds and flavanoids. Further study is required for isolation & identification of active constituents & to confirm exact mechanisms