Effect of Acute and Chronic Administration of the Aqueous Extract of Lawsonia Inermis Leaves on Haloperidol Induced Catalepsy in Albino Mice

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. The present study is carried out to investigate the effect of acute and chronic administration of aqueous extract of Lawsonia inermis Linn. leaves on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice which is a useful animal model for screening drugs for PD. Catalepsy was induced by i.p. administration of haloperidol (1mg/kg). The aqueous extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. were screened for its anticataleptic efficacy against haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice. The cataleptic score and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level were considered to correlate the levels of oxidative stress and degree of catalepsy. There is significant reduction in the cataleptic scores and increase in SOD activity was observed in Lawsonia inermis extract treated groups and maximum reduction was observed at a dose of 400mg/kg administered chronically. The study revealed significant anti-cataleptic activity of aqueous extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves. Hence the title plant can be used as an alternative agent in preventing and treating the extra pyramidal side effects of antipsychotic agents in clinical practice. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are required.