Assessment of Morus alba (mulberry) leaves extract for anti-psychotic effect in rats

Background: Morus alba commonly known as white mulberry has been widely cultivated to feed silkworms. This widely grown plant has been in use by tribals of this country for ailments such as asthma, cough, bronchitis, edema, insomnia, wound healing, diabetes, influenza, eye infections and nose bleeds. Various parts of morus alba linn are used as an cardioprotective, hepatoprotective anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, free radical scavenging activity and neuro-protective agent. In this study, anti-psychotic property of M. alba leaves extract (MAE) was evaluated by Haloperidol induced catalepsy model in rats.Methods: In this study Haloperidol induced catalepsy model was used to evaluate antipsychotic effects in rats. Haloperidol (1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to rats (n=6) pretreated with vehicle (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) or MAE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p).Results: In control treated animals, haloperidol produced the maximum catalepsy at 90 min 212.66 ±10.23. In animals treated with MAE at dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg significantly potentiated haloperidol induced catalepsy at each time interval, in a dose dependent manner. At dose 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, animals treated with MAE showed maximum cataleptic score of 228.33±12.29, 265.66±7.33 and 274.16±8.86 respectively at 120 min (p<0.001).Conclusions: Results indicate that the MAE have anti-psychotic effects in haloperidol induced catalepsy model in rats