Search for the centrally active component of Icacina trichantha tuber.

The chloroform extract of Icacina trichantha tuber was obtained after defatting with petroleum ether by overnight maceration. The extract gave a yield of 0.67% w/w after drying in a hot air oven at 40 °C. The dried residue was extracted with 50% methanol and gave a yield of 4.8% w/w. An extract of the freshly dried tuber with 50% methanol gave a yield of 4.98% w/w. The chloroform extract potentiated pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice dose-dependently. It also induced significant analgesia and muscle relaxant effects in mice. Mice poisoned with a convulsive dose (100 mg/kg) of pentylenetetrazole were significantly (60%) protected by the chloroform extract. Proportionate doses of the extracts based on their percentage yields were comparatively tested for analgesia in mice and the results obtained showed that the chloroform fraction alone exhibited almost the entire CNS activity.