M.MohamedMusthafa

In Siddha system of medicine, emotions and thoughts are considered to have a direct impact on a person's physical health. Because of the importance placed in the minds of Siddha system of medicine, many psychotropic drugs from this traditional system help often very specifically to treat the mental illness very effectively. One of such drug mentioned in Siddha system of medicine is Sadamanjil Chooranam (Nardostachys jatamansi DC).This plant used in Siddha system of medicinein the treatment of excitement, insomnia and depressive illness. In the present study, an attempt has been made to explore the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant potential of the aqueous extract of Sadamanjil Chooranam (SMCE)in Elevated plus maze model, Forced Swim testand Tail suspension testin the mice model. Two dose levels of trial drug SMCE (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight) were administered in mice. EPM result showed that the time spent of the mice after the administration of SMCE 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg showed the higher percentages of time in the open arms and the percentage of open arm entries which were statistically significant.TST and FST results showed significant decreases in the immobility period when compared with control group. The greater the immobility time observed with mice treated with higher dose of SMCE (200mg/kg) which showed the dose dependent activity of the trial drug. From the result, it is concluded that SMCE extract appeared to possess potent antianxiety and antidepressant effects and both the effects are apparently dose-dependent.