Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Ashorobi, R.B., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Objective: To study the effects of intraperitoneal injection of aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta (AM) on the central nervous system (CNS) in mice. Materials and methods: The study sought to evaluate the effects of the extract on the general behaviour of the animals (Irwin test), on pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, on methamphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour, on motor coordination, and on convulsive seizures induced by isoniazid and picrotoxin. AM was tested at a dose range of 5-400 mg/kg. Results: AM (50-200 mg/kg) produced a significant decrease in spontaneous motor activity and also caused a dose-related prolongation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. At a dose range of 100-400 mg/kg, a significant inhibition of methamphetamine (35 mg/kg, i. p) induced stereotyped behaviour was observed. Furthermore, it offered a significant protection against convulsions induced by isoniazid (200 mg/kg, i.p). However, it failed to modify the convulsive action of picrotoxin (10 mg/kg, i.p) and did not cause any significant effect in the motor coordination of animals on the rota-rod machine. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that A. melegueta seed extract possesses central nervous system depressant activity.
Aframomum melegueta extract; chlorpromazine; diazepam; isoniazid; methamphetamine; pentobarbital; picrotoxin; plant extract; unclassified drug; Aframomum melegueta; animal behavior; article; central nervous system; central nervous system depression; controlled study; dose response; drug isolation; drug mechanism; motor coordination; mouse; neuroprotection; nonhuman; plant seed; seizure; sleep time; statistical analysis; statistical significance; Zingiberaceae; Aframomum melegueta; Animalia; Zingiberaceae