Evaluation of sedative and anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae in mice

Abstract

Ipomoea pes-caprae is known as railway vine, bay hops or seashore morning beauty. Historically, the plant has been used to treat an extensive range of illnesses, including pain, gastrointestinal issues, inflammatory sores, wounds, and skin infections. The current study methanolic extract of I. pes-caprae (MEIP) was tested for its sedative and anxiolytic properties in mouse models. The sedative and anxiolytic effects of MEIP in mice models were investigated using elevated plus maze, hole cross, open field, and thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time tests. Three sets of mice were created: test, positive control, and control. There were five mice in each group. While the test groups received oral doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of MEIP, the control group received distilled water (0.1 mL/mouse, p.o.). The typical medication was diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). By decreasing the locomotors activity of mice in open field and hole cross tests in comparison to the control group, the study makes it evident that MEIP has superior sedative effects. The thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time test was found to be considerably extended by MEIP, as evidenced by the sedative impact in the duration parameter. Additionally, the two main indicators of anxiety in the raised elevated plus maze test in the mouse model are the amount of time consumed in open arms and the quantity of entries. All of these results suggest that I. pes-caprae's methanolic extract has strong sedative and anxiolytic properties. To propose this extract as a potential phytomedicine to treat neurological illnesses, however, more research is required to isolate and identify the extract's unique active ingredients and structures.