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

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 9 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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