Psychopharmacological activities of acorus calamus roots in rat and mice models

Acorus calamus (Araceae) is commonly known in India as sweet flag and has been used in
traditional medicine as a remedy for pain, convulsion, inflammation, and ulcer. In the present work, the
methanolic extract of Acorus calamus roots (MEAC) was assessed for different psychopharmacological activities
in rats and mice by evaluation of general, exploratory behaviour, phenobarbitone sodium-induced
sleeping time and muscle relaxant activity. The extract at doses 100 mg/kg and above exhibited a reduction
in spontaneous activity and a decrease in exploratory behavioural pattern was observed. Also a significant
reduction in muscle relaxant activity and potentiated phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time
in mice was noted in MEAC treated groups. From our study, the results indicates that MEAC appears to
have effects on alteration in general behavior pattern, evident from the spontaneous activity, sound, touch
and pain responses of the MEAC treated groups.
Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires