Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Neuromodulatory effects of hydro-ethanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia leaf in mice

Nnamdi Henry Okereke¹, Rita Ijeoma Udegbunam¹, Nkiruka Obianuju Okoroafor² , Kelechi Okoro¹, Augustine C Onuba¹, Sunday Ositadinma Udegbunam¹

¹Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; ²Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

For correspondence:- Nkiruka Okoroafor Email: obianuju.okoroafor@unn.edu.ng

Accepted: 30 August 2022 Published: 30 September 2022

Citation: Okereke NH, Udegbunam RI, Okoroafor NO, Okoro K, Onuba AC, Udegbunam SO. Neuromodulatory effects of hydro-ethanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia leaf in mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(9):1831-1838 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i9.17

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the neuromodulatory activities of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Parinari curatellifolia (HEPC) leaves of the family Chrysobalanaceae in mice.

Method: The open field, hole cross, hole board, climbing, elevated plus-maze, tail suspension and ketamine-induced sleeping time tests were conducted on mice groups (n = 3) to which HEPC 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg (per os) or standard central nervous system drugs (20 mg/kg imipramine and 20 mg/kg fluoxetine) intramuscularly were administered 30 min earlier.

Results: Imipramine, HEPC, and fluoxetine significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the frequency of hole crossing, head dipping and locomotory activities in the animals. The immobility period during tail suspension was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the group treated with 400 and 800 mg/kg HEPC but was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the imipramine group. The duration of chain climbing significantly increased (p < 0.05) after treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg HEPC in comparison to the climbing time observed in the imipramine group. The frequency of open arm entry was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the imipramine group compared to open arm entries in the 400 and 800 mg/kg HEPC-treated groups. Ketamine-induced sleep time was not prolonged with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg HEPC, when compared with the standard drugs used.

Conclusion: P. curatellifolia extract causes sedation and muscle relaxation but does not abolish anxiety behaviour in mice. The findings, therefore, provide some scientific evidence validating the use of Parinari curatellifolia extract in the folkloric management of insomnia.

Keywords: Parinari curatellifolia, Imipramine, Fluoxetine, Anxiolytics