Anticataleptic activity of various extracts of the aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera

Achyranthes aspera is traditionally used in the treatment of cough and bronchitis and therefore it was our objective to study the effect various extracts of the plant on clonidine and haloperidol induced catalepsy to study its antihistaminic effect. Petroleum ether extract (200 mg/kg, i.p.) of the plant significantly inhibited clonidine-induced catalepsy but not inhibited haloperidol-induced catalepsy. This proves the antihistaminic activity of the plant. The extract was standardized by HPTLC in presence of standard β-sitosterol, which proves that the antihistaminic activity may be due to β-sitosterol. Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires