Antidiabetic Potential of Commonly Available Fruit Plants in Bangladesh: Updates on Prospective Phytochemicals and Their Reported MoAs.

Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening disorder affecting people of all ages and adversely disrupts their daily functions. Despite the availability of numerous synthetic-antidiabetic medications and insulin, the demand for the development of novel antidiabetic medications is increasing due to the adverse effects and growth of resistance to commercial drugs in the long-term usage. Hence, antidiabetic phytochemicals isolated from fruit plants can be a very nifty option to develop life-saving novel antidiabetic therapeutics, employing several pathways and MoAs (mechanism of actions). This review focuses on the antidiabetic potential of commonly available Bangladeshi fruits and other plant parts, such as seeds, fruit peals, leaves, and roots, along with isolated phytochemicals from these phytosources based on lab findings and mechanism of actions. Several fruits, such as orange, lemon, amla, tamarind, and others, can produce remarkable antidiabetic actions and can be dietary alternatives to antidiabetic therapies. Besides, isolated phytochemicals from these plants, such as swertisin, quercetin, rutin, naringenin, and other prospective phytochemicals, also demonstrated their candidacy for further exploration to be established as antidiabetic leads. Thus, it can be considered that fruits are one of the most valuable gifts of plants packed with a wide spectrum of bioactive phytochemicals and are widely consumed as dietary items and medicinal therapies in different civilizations and cultures. This review will provide a better understanding of diabetes management by consuming fruits and other plant parts as well as deliver innovative hints for the researchers to develop novel drugs from these plant parts and/or their phytochemicals.

Phytol anti-inflammatory activity: Pre-clinical assessment and possible mechanism of action elucidation.

Phytol (PHY) is an acyclic natural diterpene alcohol and a chlorophyll constituent that exhibits several pharmacological effects, such as anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial. Here, we aimed to assess the PHY anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo, and to deepen knowledge on the possible mechanism of action. For this purpose, egg albumin (in vitro) test was performed by using acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) as a standard nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). For in vivo test, male Wistar albino rats were treated (intraperitoneally) with 100 mg/kg of PHY and/or standard NSAIDs ASA (100 mg/kg) and diclofenac sodium (Diclo-Na, 10 mg/kg) to evaluate the combined effect of PHY in formalin-induced paw edema model. Furthermore, an in silico (CADD) study was accomplished to assess the effect of PHY against cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and 2 enzymes, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Results revealed that PHY exhibits dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect using the egg albumin method. PHY (100 mg/kg) co-treated with ASA and/or Diclo-Na reduced paw edema better than PHY alone or NSAIDs individual groups. Computational study showed that PHY efficiently interacts with COX-1 and 2, NF-κB, and IL-1ß. In conclusion, PHY exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, possibly via COX-1 and 2, NF-κB, and IL-1ß dependent pathways.

Ascorbic acid antagonizes the sedative effect of diazepam possibly through inhibition of GABA(Aρ1) and GABA(B1) receptors.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors belong to a ligand-gated ion channels family and are markedly expressed at the axon terminals of retinal bipolar cells. Ascorbic acid (AA), a known and vital antioxidant in the brain can modulate GABA receptors. We postulate that AA would antagonize benzodiazepines' effect via GABA receptor(s) interacting pathway. Here, we evaluated the modulatory sedative effect of AA on diazepam (DZP)'s anxiolytic effects in Swiss albino mice. The anxiolytic study was accomplished by using open-field, hole-board, and by swing and light-dark tests taking DZP as a standard anxiolytic drug. To understand the possible modulatory effects of AA, animals were co-administered with AA and DZP and/or its antagonist flumazenil (FLU). Additionally, an in-silico study was undertaken against GABA(A1), GABA(B1), and GABA(Aρ1) receptors. Data suggest that AA at 25 mg/kg (i.p.) increased (p<0.05) the number of field cross, rearing, number of hole cross, and swing and residence, while decreased grooming and dark residence parameters as compared to the control and DZP groups. In addition, AA and/or FLU combined with DZP (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reversed DZP-mediated sedative effects in mice. Results from in silico study suggest that AA has good interactions with GABA(Aρ1) and GABA(B1) receptors. In conclusion, DZP is a GABA receptor agonist and AA may reverse DZP-mediated sedative effects in a non-competitive binding fashion in mice through inhibition of GABA(Aρ1) and GABA(B1) receptors.

Agathisflavone: Botanical sources, therapeutic promises, and molecular docking study.

In this article, we have summarized the biological sources and pharmacological activities of agathisflavone along with molecular docking studies to correlate the interaction of this biflavonoid and biomacromolecules involving in its biological effects observed in database-oriented scientific reports. For this, an up-to-date (from 1991 to October 2018) search was done on the databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, The American Chemical Society, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases. The findings suggest that agathisflavone possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiparasitic, cytotoxic, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. An in silico study of agathisflavone against 17 essential proteins/enzymes revealed that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 are the most efficient enzymes for the interaction and binding of this biflavonoid for its anti-inflammatory activity. In conclusion, agathisflavone may be one of the promising plant-derived lead compounds in the treatment of oxidative stress, inflammatory diseases, microbial infection, hepatic and neurological diseases and disorders, and cancer. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1192-1200, 2019.

A systematic review on antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil and further confirmation of antiinflammatory activity by chemical profiling and molecular docking.

Traditionally, sesame oil (SO) has been used as a popular food and medicine. The review aims to summarize the antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects of SO and its identified compounds as well as further fatty acid profiling and molecular docking study to correlate the interaction of its identified constituents with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). For this, a literature study was made using Google Scholar, Pubmed, and SciFinder databases. Literature study demonstrated that SO has potential antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects in various test systems, including humans, animals, and cultured cells through various pathways such as inhibition of COX, nonenzymatic defense mechanism, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, NF-kB or mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and prostaglandin synthesis pathway. Fatty acid analysis of SO using gas chromatography identified known nine fatty acids. In silico study revealed that sesamin, sesaminol, sesamolin, stigmasterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and Δ7-avenasterol (-9.6 to -10.7 kcal/mol) were the most efficient ligand for interaction and binding with COX-2. The known fatty acid also showed binding efficiency with COX-2 to some extent (-6.0 to -8.4 kcal/mol). In summary, it is evident that SO may be one of promising traditional medicines that we could use in the prevention and management of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Antidepressant-like effect of anacardic acid in mice via the L-arginine-nitric oxide-serotonergic system.

Depression, a multifactorial neuronal disorder with high morbidity/mortality, is associated with psychological, psychosocial, hereditary, and environmental etiologies, where reactive species exert pathophysiological functions. Anacardic acid (AA), a natural compound obtained from cashew nut liquid, has several pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anticonvulsant. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of AA and the involvement of serotonergic, noradrenergic, and L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) in tail suspension and forced swim tests and, more so, to investigate its antioxidant effect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in male Swiss mice (n = 8). In order to identify the antidepressant mechanisms, AA (10, 25, or 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was given 30 min before clonidine (2-adrenergic receptor agonist), L-arginine (NO precursor), propranolol (ß-adrenergic receptor antagonist), and several other agonists or antagonists used. On the other hand, clonidine, noradrenoreceptor, noradrenaline, and L-arginine were used to identify the antidepressant mechanisms. Results suggest that AA exerts antidepressant-like activity, especially at higher doses, possibly by inhibiting serotonin and 5HT-1A reuptake receptors and by inhibiting NO synthetase and guanylyl cyclase enzymes. Additionally, AA exhibited antioxidant effect in S. cerevisiae. This antioxidant capacity may be linked to its antidepressant-like effect but does not interact with α- and ß-adrenoceptor receptors. In conclusion, AA may be used as a promising agent to treat depression, especially which arises from oxidative stress.

The role of bixin as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and skin protecting natural product extracted from Bixa orellana L.

Since long, medicinal plants or herbs are being used in different traditional treatment systems as therapeutic agents to treat a variety of illnesses. Bixa orellana L., an medicinal plant (family: Bixaceae), is an Ayurvedic herb used to treat dyslipidemia, diarrhoea, and hepatitis since ancient times. B. orellana L., seeds contain an orange-red coloured component known as bixin (C25H30O4), which constitutes 80% of the extract.Chemically, bixin is a natural apocarotenoid, biosynthesized through the oxidative degradation of C40 carotenoids. Bixin helps to regulate the Nrf2/MyD88/TLR4 and TGF-1/PPAR-/Smad3 pathways, which further give it antifibrosis, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This current review article presents a comprehensive review of bixin as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer,and skin protecting natural product. In addition, the biosynthesis and molecular target of bixin, along with bixin extraction techniques, are also presented.

Role of pattern recognition receptors in sensing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the major invasive intracellular pathogens causing most deaths by a single infectious agent. The interaction between host immune cells and this pathogen is the focal point of the disease, Tuberculosis. Host immune cells not only mount the protective action against this pathogen but also serve as the primary niche for growth. Thus, recognition of this pathogen by host immune cells and following signaling cascades are key dictators of the disease state. Immune cells, mainly belonging to myeloid cell lineage, recognize a wide variety of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ligands ranging from carbohydrate and lipids to proteins to nucleic acids by different membrane-bound and soluble pattern recognition receptors. Simultaneous interaction between different host receptors and pathogen ligands leads to immune-inflammatory response as well as contributes to virulence. This review summarizes the contribution of pattern recognition receptors of host immune cells in recognizing Mycobacterium tuberculosis and subsequent initiation of signaling pathways to provide the molecular insight of the specific Mtb ligands interacting with specific PRR, key adaptor molecules of the downstream signaling pathways and the resultant effector functions which will aid in identifying novel drug targets, and developing novel drugs and adjuvants.

Isolation and Characterization of Antibacterial Compounds from Aspergillus fumigatus: An Endophytic Fungus from a Mangrove Plant of the Sundarbans.

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the largest mangrove forests in one stretch. Mangrove plants from this forest are little studied for their endophytic fungi. In this study, we isolated fourteen endophytic fungi from the plants Ceriops decandra and Avicennia officinalis collected from the Sundarbans. Five of them were identified as Aspergillus sp. and one as Penicillium sp. by macroscopic and microscopic observation. Antibacterial activity of the crude extracts obtained from these endophytes was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using resazurin-based microtiter assay. The isolated endophytes showed varying degrees of antibacterial activity with MICs ranging between 5 and 0.078 mg/mL. Molecular identification of the most active endophyte revealed its identity as Aspergillus fumigatus obtained from the leaves of C. decandra. Acute toxicity study of the ethyl acetate extract of A. fumigatus in mice revealed no mortality even at the highest dose of 2000 mg/kg bodyweight, though some opposing results are found in the subacute toxicity study. The extract was subjected to silica gel and Sephadex column chromatography resulting in the isolation of three pure compounds. LC-MS analysis of these pure compounds revealed their identity as fumigaclavine C, azaspirofuran B, and fraxetin. This is the first report of fraxetin from A. fumigatus. All three identified compounds were previously reported for their antibacterial activity against different strains of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the observed antibacterial activity of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of A. fumigatus could be due to the presence of these compounds. These results support the notion of investigating fungal endophytes from the Sundarbans for new antimicrobial compounds.

Theoretical effectiveness of steam inhalation against SARS-CoV-2 infection: updates on clinical trials, mechanism of actions, and traditional approaches.

Steam inhalation therapy can be a contemporary approach for COVID-19 affected patients of all age groups to manage respiratory conditions, though it presently lacks the scientific backing to establish itself as a befitting practice. The age of COVID-19 has facilitated this traditional home remedy to resurface among the general mass as a helpful approach for the prevention and adjuvant treatment of the disease. In this review, the means of SARS-CoV-2 infection and impact of the parameters, namely steam inhalation and heat on such infection has been delineated via enumerating the effect of the parameters in the human body and against SARS-CoV-2. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and CNKI Scholar databases. The keywords used in the survey include 'Steam inhalation', 'SARS-CoV-2', 'COVID-19', 'Clinical study', 'Mechanism of action', 'Traditional uses', 'Phytochemistry' and 'Adverse effects'. Clinical studies concerning steam inhalation by COVID-19 patients have been comprehended to demarcate the scientific obscurity of the practice. The safety profile of the procedure has also been outlined emphasizing evading measures against COVID-19 and other related disease states. To recapitulate, application of the steam inhalation with herbal concoctions and phytochemicals having folkloric prevalence as an inhalable remedy against respiratory illnesses has been explored in this review work to focus on a new aspect in the COVID-19 treatment paradigm using steam and progress of further research hither.

Antioxidant properties and phenolic profiling by UPLC-QTOF-MS of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm.

Date palm (P. dactylifera) plays a vital role in ethnomedicinal practices in several parts of the world. There are over 2000 cultivars of date palm that differ in chemical composition and extent of bioactivity. The present study was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential of three cultivars of date palm (Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari) from Saudi Arabia and analyze their phenolic constituents in order to draw a rationale for their activity. Antioxidant activities of the date cultivars were evaluated by different quantitative methods including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and tannin content (TTC), while qualitative phenolic composition was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadropole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). All the three date extracts showed good DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 103-177 µg/mL) and hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC50 1.1-1.55 mg/mL) activity and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 87-192 µg/mL). The reducing power was also comparable to that of ascorbic acid, used as standard in above experiments. All the three samples contain significant amount of major antioxidant components (phenolic, flavonoid and tannin) that successfully correlates with the results of radical scavenging assays. UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed a total of 22 compounds in these date cultivars classified into common phenolics, flavonoids, sterols and phytoestrogens. Significant variation in the degree of antioxidant activity of these three date cultivars can be attributed to the difference in the content and composition of phenolic compounds.

Amaranthus spinosus Attenuated Obesity-Induced Metabolic Disorders in High-Carbohydrate-High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Rats.

Amaranthus spinosus is a common vegetable of Bangladesh and well-known for its ethnomedicinal uses. In this study, we have evaluated the ability of powdered supplementation, methanol extract, and aqueous extract of A. spinosus in attenuating in high-carbohydrate-high-fat (HCHF) diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders in female obese rates. Several parameters have been analyzed in this study including body weight, organ weight, fat deposition, glycemic status, lipid levels, hepatic and renal biomarkers, hepatic antioxidant status, and hepatosteatosis. All three samples of A. spinosus significantly reduced weight gain, organ weight, and abdominal fat deposition. Improved glucose tolerance and lipid parameters were seen in obese rats administered with A. spinosus powder, methanol extract, and aqueous extract. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine kinase levels were normalized by the test samples. A. spinosus boosted hepatic antioxidant levels including reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Histopathology of liver tissue revealed increased fat infiltration and higher steatosis score in HCHF diet-fed obese rats which was brought down by A. spinosus. Analyzing all the results it can be concluded that this medicinal herb is beneficial in the management of obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disorders, making it a prospective food supplement.

Supplementation of Heliotropium indicum Linn attenuates obesity and associated metabolic disorders in high-carbohydrate-high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Heliotropium indicum Linn is a leafy vegetable that has been used in Bangladeshi ethnomedicinal practices. The attenuation effect of H. indicum supplementation was evaluated in high carbohydrate high-fat (HCHF) diet-induced obesity and associated disorders in 8-weeks-old female Wister rats. H. indicum significantly (p < .05) prevented weight gain and improved glucose intolerance in obese rats. It also significantly (p < .05) ameliorated lipid parameters in HCHF diet fed rats preventing hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, resulting in improved the artherogenic index (AI). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were brought to normal by H. indicum. It significantly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as increased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver. The intense liver fat deposition was seen in HCHF fed rats which were relatively low in H. indicum fed rats. Therefore, H. indicum has the ability to prevent obesity and associated metabolic disorders. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are the most common threats to public health. Modern lifestyle and food habits are the main causes behind this malice, and the introduction of functional foods in daily diet is proved to be highly beneficial. Results of this study demonstrated that H. indicum can effectively attenuate obesity and its associated metabolic complications. Therefore, the current study has the merits to promote scientific knowledge of the dietary application of H. indicum as a functional food among the community.

Nutritional value, micronutrient and antioxidant capacity of some green leafy vegetables commonly used by southern coastal people of Bangladesh.

Southern coastal people of Bangladesh are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition due to coastal flooding, deforestation and increased soil salinity. A number of green leafy vegetables are found in the southern coastal belt being traditionally eaten as daily basis by local people. But they are unaware of nutritional and medicinal use of these vegetables. To contribute to their wider utilization, five common vegetables namely Hibiscus sabdariffa, Trianthema portulacastrum, Diplazium esculentum, Heliotropium indicum L. and Hygrophila auriculata were selected for analysis of nutritional proximate, micronutrients and antioxidant potential. Nutritional properties were analyzed in terms of moisture, pH, protein, lipid, ash, fibre, minerals and carbohydrate. Total flavonoid, tannin and antioxidant capacity were evaluated using established protocols. The results demonstrated that collected plants are rich in carbohydrate, fibre, proteins, moisture and ash content but low in lipid content. The mineral elements were high with remarkable amount of Na (19.9-21.5 mg/gm), K (7.9-13.5 mg/gm) and P (1.0-1.8 mg/gm). All the samples were found to have considerable amount of flavonoid (90.6-144.5 mg QE/gm) and tannin content (26.8-57.2 mg GAE/gm). The IC50 value of DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging was the lowest for H. indicum (37.1 and 83.4 µg/ml, respectively) whereas T. portulacastrum possessed high reducing power (IC50 53.7 µg/ml). Among the five investigated species, T. portulacastrum and H. indicum were found to have good nutritional and antioxidant properties, thus can be promoted as a significant source of nutritional and antioxidant food supplements.

Assessment of the laxative activity of an ethanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. shoot.

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd., commonly known as Kanta Bans, plays an important ethnobotanical role, especially in Asia. In traditional medicine it has reportedly been used for the treatment of constipation, blood-diseases, leucodema, inflammation and urinary discharges. A number of ethnomedicinal records exist regarding the use of B. arundinaceae shoots as a laxative, however, there are no scientific studies reported on its laxative activity. Therefore, the aim of this present study was to evaluate the laxative activity of an ethanolic B. arundinaceae shoot extract in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B. arundinacea shoots were collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh in July 2015. An ethanolic shoot extract was obtained and its laxative activity was evaluated by faecal consistency, gastrointestinal transit and entero-pooling assays in a mouse model. Furthermore, a phytochemical investigation of the extract was conducted by UHPLC-ESI-QqQ MS and UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS analysis. RESULTS: The ethanolic shoot extract of B. arundinacea showed significant laxative activity in our mouse model, with significant increases in (i) the amount of wet faeces, with the maximum effect at 2h for 500mg/kg (47.92%), (ii) gastrointestinal transit (67.18% and 60.03% for doses of 250 and 500mg/kg, respectively), and (iii) small intestine content at the test doses of 250 and 500mg/kg p.o. Phytochemical investigation identified a total of thirty compounds in the ethanolic shoot extract of B. arundinacea using UHPLC-ESI-QqQ MS and UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide support for the traditional use of B. arundinacea shoot as a laxative.

Analgesic Activity, Chemical Profiling and Computational Study on Chrysopogon aciculatus.

Present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic activity of the ethanol extract of Chrysopogon aciculatus. In addition to bioassays in mice, chemical profiling was done by LC-MS and GC-MS to identify phytochemicals, which were further docked on the catalytic site of COX-2 enzymes with a view to suggest the possible role of such phytoconstituents in the observed analgesic activity. Analgesic activity of C. aciculatus was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhing reflex method and hot plate technique. Phytochemical profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In docking studies, homology model of human COX-2 enzyme was prepared using Easy Modeler 4.0 and the identified phytoconstituents were docked using Autodock Vina. Preliminary acute toxicity test of the ethanol extract of C. aciculatus showed no sign of mortality at the highest dose of 4,000 mg/kg. The whole plant extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg. The extract delayed the response time in hot plate test in a dose dependent manner. LC-MS analysis of the plant extract revealed the presence of aciculatin, nudaphantin and 5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diene-3ß-ol. Three compounds namely citronellylisobutyrate; 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one and nudaphantin were identified in the n-hexane fraction by GC-MS. Among these compounds, six were found to be interacting with the binding site for arachidonic acid in COX-2 enzyme. Present study strongly supports the traditional use of C. aciculatus in the management of pain. In conclusion, compounds (tricin, campesterol, gamma oryzanol, and citronellyl isobutyrate) showing promising binding affinity in docking studies, along with previously known anti-inflammatory compound aciculatin can be held responsible for the observed activity.

Comparative study of neuropharmacological, analgesic properties and phenolic profile of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera).

In addition to the rich nutritional value, date palm is also used in various ethnobotanical practices for the treatment of various disease conditions. Present investigation was undertaken to examine the neuropharmacological and antinociceptive effect of the ethanol extract of three date cultivars growing in Saudi Arabia, namely Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari. Neuropharmacological effect was observed by pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, open field, and hole board test. Antinociceptive activity was tested by acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate test. The date extracts were also subjected to HPLC analysis to detect the presence of common bioactive polyphenols. All the three date extracts extended the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, reduced locomotor activity in open field test and reduced exploratory behaviour in hole board test in mice. The extracts also reduced acetic acid induced writhing and delayed response time in hot plate test. The activities were stronger for Ajwah than the other two date cultivars. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of trans-ferulic acid in all three cultivars, while (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin only in Ajwah and Safawy. The observed neuropharmacological and analgesic activity could be partly due to the presence of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and trans-ferulic acid, three important plant polyphenols well known for their neuroprotective activity and their ability to exert antioxidant activity on brain cells. Present investigation also supports the ethnobotanical use of date palm to provide ameliorating effects in pain and CNS disorders.