Evaluation of Central Nervous System Depressant and Sedative Activities of Cold, Hot and Ethanolic Extracts of Parijata Flowers Using Zebrafish Model

Parijata, which is also called night jasmine, usually blooms at nighttime. It is a medicinal tree or shrub that has been extensively used in the traditional medicinal systems, like the folk system of medicine and the Ayurvedic system. The shrub was used to treat neurological diseases due to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents that possess therapeutic properties. The study evaluates the central nervous system depression and sedative activity of different extracts of parijata flowers in the zebra fish model. The zebrafish is susceptible to medications that act centrally, and they are suitable for easy assessment of locomotor activity in the current study. The fish were exposed to different extracts of parijata flowers, which were pretreated with caffeine to induce hyperactivity, which is a sign of CNS stimulation. The study findings showed a significant positive result. There is a noticeable reduction of caffeine-infused hyperactivity, suggesting depression and a sedative effect on the central nervous system. The behavioral responses of zebrafishes were observed by monitoring swimming speed, freezing behavior, and locomotor activity. This effect was extract-dependent, and bioactive compounds like flavonoids and iridoid glycosides are responsible for these activities, which act through modulation of the neurotransmitter system involved in locomotor activity. The study implies scientific support for the traditional medicinal use of parijata.