SOME NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF FICUS INGENS (MIQUEL) MIQUEL IN MICE AND CHICKS
SOME NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF FICUS INGENS (MIQUEL) MIQUEL IN MICE AND CHICKS
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Date
2013-05
Authors
OFFIAH, RAYMOND OGBONNA
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Abstract
Ficus ingens (Miquel) Miquel belongs to the Moraceae family. In some African countries,
extracts of the bark are administered to cows with a low milk production, and to people
suffering from anaemia, piles and diarrhea. The behavior of living organisms is a visible
manifestation of activity of the central nervous system, and mental and behavioural disorders
pose a burden to the affected individual and the society at large, and anxiety disorders are
inclusive occurring as the most common mental disorder. In this study, the behavioural
effects of methanolic extract of Ficus ingens (Miquel) Miquel stem bark were investigated in
mice at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, using diazepam-induced sleeping time, hole board
test, beam walking assay, elevated plus maze, elevated zero maze and staircase test in mice.
The results revealed that the extract significantly (P<0.0005) prolonged the duration of
diazepam-induced sleep without any effect on the latency to sleep at all the doses tested. The
extract slightly decreased the number of head dips in the exploratory behaviour of mice in
the hole board test; it also had a slight effect on the motor coordination of the mice in the
beam walking assay. The extract showed anxiolysis in the staircase test characterized by
significant (P<0.0005) decrease in the rearing behaviour. The extract had no significant
effect on the number of open arm entries nor the time spent in the open arms as compared to
the control group in both the plus maze and the zero maze. The methanolic extract of Ficus
ingens (Miquel) Miquel stem bark was screened for anticonvulsant activity at doses of 125,
250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i,p.) in mice and chicks against clonic
seizures induced by Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (85 mg/kg, i.p.) and tonic seizures induced by
Maximal electro shock (MES) (90 mA, 100Hz, 0.8sec) respectively. The extract at all doses
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did not protect the mice from convulsion and mortality from PTZ except with 1000mg/kg
dose that had a 100% protection against mortality. The extract at all doses had no effect on
the mean recovery time of convulsed chicks. The oral and intraperitoneal LD50 were both
found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. These results suggest that the extract contains
biologically active principles that have sedative as well as possible anxiolytic properties. The
preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, triterpenoids,
alkaloids, flavonoids, phlobatanins and anthraquinones.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page ii
Declaration iii
Certification iv
Dedication v
Acknowledgement vi
Abstract
viii
Table of contents x
List of Tables
xvi
List of Plates
xvii
Abbreviations
xviii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Statement of research problem 3
1.2 Justification of the study 5
1.3 Theoretical framework 5
1.3.1 Maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizure 5
1.3.2 Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure 6
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1.3.3 Diazepam-induced sleep 6
1.3.4 Hole board test (test for exploratory
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA-NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF A
MASTER DEGREE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Keywords
NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL, PROPERTIES, METHANOLIC, STEM BARK EXTRACT, FICUS INGENS, FICUS INGENS, MIQUEL, MICE AND CHICKS