ISOLATION OF TECOMINE FROM ALKALOID FRACTION, INVESTIGATION OF ADAPTOGENIC AND NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTSOF ETHANOLIC, ETHYL ACETATE AND HEXANE FLOWER EXTRACTS OF TECOMA GAUDICHAUDI

The present study aims to evaluate antistress and neuropharmacological parameters of ethanolic, ethyl acetate and hexane flower extracts of Tecoma gaudichaudi. Forced swim stress was used to evaluate antistress activity. The 24 h urinary excretion of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and ascorbic acid were determined by spectrophotometric methods in all groups under normal and stressed conditions. In the present study, the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were investigated for nootropic activity in rats with and without stress. Cook’s pole climbing apparatus measures conditioned avoidance response, elevated plus maze determines transfer latency and staircase test calculates the number of steps climbed and rearings in normal and stress induced rats to assess cognitive-improving activities. Cognition was enhanced by daily administration of Tecoma gaudichaudi extracts at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. in dose dependent manner in normal rats. Tecomine and its derivatives were isolated from alkaloidal fraction.