Abstract:
Hot infusion of Nyctanthes arho-lristis Linn. (Oleaceae)
llowers are used often by some elderly Sri Lankan Buddhist
monks as a potential sedative. However, in Ayurvedic,
traditional and folkloric medicine of Sri Lanka, no
Mich implication has been made regarding therapeutic
activity of these flowers. The aim of this study was to
investigate the sedative potential of N- arbo-lrislis flowers
in rats using the hole-board technique. A hot flower
infusion was made as used by the monks in different concentrations
(3.7, 7.5. 12.5, or 18.7mg/kg) and was orally
.idministered. Sedative potential was assessed 2h postucatment.
The infusion had a moderate dose-dependent
conscious sedative activity in male but, surprisingly, not
m female rats. The infusion was well tolerated (in terms
of overt toxic signs, liver or kidney functions) even following
subchronic treatments and also did not show
,tny overt signs of dependence (classical signs of withdrawal
reactions). Sedation appears to result mainly by
antioxidant, membrane stabilizing, and by yet undiscovered
mechanisms of sedative actions of anthocyanin, a
tlavonoid, in the flower.
