Abstract

Conventional synthetic neuroleptic drugs used for the treatment of chronic cases of psychosis are associated with extra pyramidal side effects. Herbal neuroleptic drugs might prove to be devoid of these side effects. Monoherbal and polyherbal neuroleptic tablets of various combinations were prepared using Acorus calamus (I), Glycyrrhiza glabra (II) and Withania somnifera (Ill). Wet granulation technique was employed for tablet formulation (100 mg) and the tablets were film coated with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of various active constituents was done by high performance thin layer chromatography where elution media such as to1uene:ethyl acetate (93:7) for I, methanol: strong ammonia (200:3) for II and ethyl acetate: ethanol: water: ammonia (65:25:9:1) for Ill were used. The amount of β-asarone, glycyrrhizic acid and withaferin-A present in 100 mg of mono ingredient herbal tablets were found to be 2.81%, 2.95% and 0.69%, respectively. Tranquilizing effect, anxiolytic efficacy and catatonic response were measured in wistar rats. An optimum therapeutic efficacy of mono herbal formulations were confirmed by sleeping tranquilizing effects (P<0.001) using rotarod method and anxiolytic effects by thiopental sleeping time on Wistar rat model. No drug-induced catatonia was observed with the developed tablet formulations in rat model. The monoherbal tablet dosage form thus prepared may be a better alternative over synthetic drugs and polyherbal formulations during chronic treatment of psychosis and thereby expected to be a cost effective, safe and natural product for better psychiatric therapy.