In the present study, effect of Bauhinia variegata (BV) was evaluated on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced changes in plasma corticosterone and monoamines-noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in cortex and hippocampus regions of brain in rats. Wistar albino rats of either sex (200-250 g) were subjected to CUS and treated with alcoholic extract of Bauhinia variegata (200 and 400 mg/kg; p.o) and diazepam as standard (4 mg/kg i.p.) for 7 days. Levels of plasma corticosterone, triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol and biological amines levels in cortex and hippocampus were estimated. CUS resulted in significant elevation in plasma corticosterone levels and biochemical parameters, whereas levels of NA, DA and 5-HT were significantly depleted in cortex and hippocampus regions of brain, which was significantly countered by treatment with BV similar to the effects of diazepam at 4 mg/kg i.p. Hence, our study indicates that the adaptogenic activity of BV might be due to the normalization of stress induced alteration in plasma corticosterone and levels of monoamines like NA, 5-HT and DA in cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain, which are more vulnerable to stressful conditions analogous to the effects of diazepam.
