PHARMACOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF INDIGENOUS PLANT

Plumbago zeylanica Linn and rhizomes of Acorus calamus Linn were selected to evaluate its memory enhancing potential. The Plumbago zeylanica L. roots (Plumbaginaceae) is included in ¿Rasayanä- an Ayurvedic ancient system of medicine for rejuvenation. It also contains Plumbagin as active constituent which is an alkaloid which may act as nervine tonic.The UV spectroscopic method was used for the estimation of total phenolic, flavonoid, tannins and alkaloid contents for both plants. The total flavonoids content were found maximum in Acorus calamus Linn was about 88 % and in Plumbago zeylanica Linn it was 50%. Using the standard plot of quercetin (y=0.005x-0.05 R² = 0.997), the flavonoid contents of Acorus calamus Linn and in Plumbago zeylanica Linn., it was found to be 88 and 50 mg Quercetin equivalent/g of dry sample respectively.