Abdulrahman F.I., Onyeyili P.A., Sandabe U.K., Ogugbuaja V.O.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Abdulrahman, F.I., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Onyeyili, P.A., Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Sandabe, U.K., Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Ogugbuaja, V.O., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Aim of this study to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Vitrex doniana on the peripheral and central nervous systems and possibility to use it as folk medicine. The aqueous extract of Vitex doniana was soxhlet extracted with distilled water and concentrated in vacuo to give a yield of 8.5% w/w. The LD50 following intraperitoneal administration was estimated to be 980 mg kg-1. The aqueous extract of Vitex doniana from the study produced substantial depressant effects on both the peripheral and central nervous system. The aqueous extract induced sleep on its own at dose of 400 mg kg-1 and potentiated sodium thiopental sleeping time in a dose dependant manner. It also showed significant (p<0.05) muscle relaxant activities and produced analgesia and weal anesthetic effect. The extract was able to confer 80% protection to rats treated with convulsive dose of PTZ, while it conferred 100% protection to rats treated with convulsion dose of strychnine. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.