Anticatatonic effect of venoruton.

The protective effect of venoruton O-(beta-hydroxy-ethyl) rutoside, HR was investigated against drug induced catatonia in rats. Perphenazine, haloperidol, reserpine and meperidine produced frank catalepsy in rats. The cataleptic effect of these neuroleptics was significantly attenuated when the animals were pretreated with venoruton. The protective effect of venoruton is speculated to be due to its inhibitory action on superoxide formation and free radicals are considered to have a role in the neurotoxicity caused by the above agents.