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8283605 
Journal Article 
Behavioural actions of Myristica fragrans seeds 
Sonavane, G; Sarveiya, V; Kasture, V; Kasture, SB 
2001 
Yes 
Indian Journal of Pharmacology
ISSN: 0253-7613
EISSN: 19983751 
33 
6 
417-424 
English 
Objective: To study behavioural effects of the acetone soluble part of n-hexane extract of Myristica fragrans (MF). Methods: MF (10-100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to a group of mice 30min before placing them individually on the elevated plus maze or open field test apparatus or hole board apparatus. The effect of MF was observed on the duration of occupancy of mice in the open and closed arm of the elevated plus maze and also on the number of entries in both the closed and open arms. The effect of MF was observed on the number of rearing, and the number of squares traversed in the open field apparatus and the number of head poking in the hole board apparatus. The effect of MF was also observed on the pentobarbitone-induced sleep and haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Diazepam and ondansetron were used as reference anxiolytic agents. The analgesic activity of MF was assessed using Eddy's hot plate and acetic acid -induced writhing in mice. Results: The MF reduced the occupancy in the open arm and increased the occupancy in closed arm. The number of entries was reduced in both the arms. The anxiolytic agents ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the time spent in the closed arm. These effects of diazepam and ondansetron on the time spent on the closed arm were reversed by MF. MF also reduced the number of rearing and the number of squares traversed in the open field test and number of head poking in the hole board apparatus. The MF increased the duration of pentobarbitone-induced sleep and increased the severity of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The extract reduced the acetic acid induced writhing and increased reaction time when placed on the hot plate. The extract exhibited a wide margin of safety and did not produce mortality in dose up to 3.0 g/kg, i.p. Conclusion: MF has anxiogenic, sedative and analgesic activities. Though the drugs having anxiogenic activity cannot have any therapeutic use, they can be used as experimental tools to study the anxiolytic activity of other compounds. Further research should be aimed at isolating the active principle responsible for anxiogenic action and the mechanism by which it induces anxiety. 
Analgesic; Anxiogenic; M. fragrans; Sedative