Abstract

Background: Psychosis is considered as the diminished relationship with reality. In this serious mental disorder, people suffering have hallucinations or delusions as prominent symptoms. The hallucinations are sensory involvements that arise in the absence of an actual stimulus, whereas the delusions are the thoughts that are contrary to actual evidence. The numerous neuroleptic medications used today are not devoid of the adverse drug reactions. The Withania coagulans (WC) - A susceptible species, is not explored much for its central nervous system effects except in late seventies. Therefore, it was thought worthwhile to investigate this plant further for its antipsychotic activity. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the antipsychotic activity of alcoholic extract of WC fruits in Swiss albino mice (SAM) in haloperidol- induced catalepsy.
Materials and Methods: Haloperidol-induced catalepsy was the test used for assessing the antipsychotic activity of alcoholic extract at the doses of 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of WC fruits in SAM.
Results: There was statistically (P > 0.05) no significant association between alcoholic extract of WC fruits at the doses of 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg with antipsychotic activity in SAM in haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Conclusion: Alcoholic extract of WC fruits did not demonstrate antipsychotic activity in haloperidol-induced catalepsy in SAM.