The prevailing study was deliberated to explore the effect of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. extract (Na.Cr) pertaining to anticonvulsant, memory-enhancement and anxiolytic in rodents. Methanolic extract of Na.Cr phytochemically screened for presence of possible major chemical constituents. After assessing toxicity, rodents (rats and mice) were treated with various doses of Na. Cr i.e. 100, 200 and 400mg/kg for assessing anticonvulsant activity in strychnine induced convulsions (P >0.05), notable effect was observed in picrotoxin induced convulsions (P < 0.05), pentylenetetrazole induced acute convulsions (P < 0.05) and lithium pilocarpine induced status epilepticus (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Na.Cr also reverse scopolamine-induced memory deficit (P < 0.05) in Morris-water maze. Moreover, dose dependent anxiolytic effect was observed in various anxiety models including Elevated-plus-maze(P < 0.05), light and dark-test(P < 0.05) and open-field test(P < 0.05). The current study validation supported the use of N. arbor-tristis L. in anticonvulsant, memory enhancing and anxiolytic in animal models. Presence of major chemical constituent like flavonoid and terpenoids and various constituent might have imparted vital neuroprotective role.

Keywords: Strychnine induced convulsions, picrotoxin induced convulsions, Scopolamine-induced memory loss, anxiety