Neuropharmacological Activities of Mikania scandens Root

Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae), known as climbing hemp weed in English is a herbaceous climbing vine grown as a weed throughout the plains of the Indian subcontinent. The present study evaluated some neuropharmacological activities of hydroalcoholic extract of root from M. scandens (RMS) in experimental animal models. RMS (at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) was evaluated for anti-nociceptive activity by acetic acid induced writhing and tail flick methods. Locomotor depressant activity was measured by means of an actophotometer. Skeletal muscle relaxant effect was evaluated by using rota-rod apparatus and sedative potentiating property by phenobarbitone-induced sleep potentiation study. The results of the present study revealed significant (p < 0.001) and dose dependent anti-nociceptive, locomotor depressant, muscle relaxant and sedative potentiating effects of RMS, demonstrating its depressant action on the central nervous system (CNS). From the present study, it can be concluded that the root of M. scandens possessed prominent depressant action on the CNS, as manifested by the important neuropharmacological activities in mice.