This study investigated the modulatory and chemopreventive benefit of amlodipine (AML), a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, against neurobehavioural abnormalities (NAs) associated with chlorpromazine (CPZ) toxicity in mice. Adult mice were divided into five groups of six animals/group. Group 1 (control) was administered saline (10 mL/kg i.p.). Group 2 received CPZ (2 mg/kg i.p.). Groups 3 and 4 received bromocriptine (BMC, 2.5 mg/kg s.c.) and AML (1 mg/kg s.c.), respectively, while group 5 received their combination. Groups 3-5 later received CPZ 30 min after initial treatments. Animals were subjected to neurobehavioural tests and euthanized 18 h later. CPZ-induced NAs were characterized by significant increase (P < 0.001) in cataleptic behaviour and lowered (P < 0.05) spontaneous activity reaction time in mice. There were also significant (P < 0.001) increases in malondialdehyde levels and decreased locomotion plus learning and memory parameters (P < 0.05-0.001). AML pretreatment alone did not alleviate CPZ-induced motor deficits in the mice. While pretreatment with BMC alone attenuated CPZ-associated catalepsy, its combination with AML further protected mice against NAs. Furthermore, BMC pretreatment did not affect CPZ-induced increase in malondialdehyde level, but AML or BMC+AML significantly (P < 0.05) decreased malondialdehyde in the CPZ-treated rats. Reduced glutathione levels and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase remained elevated in all treatment groups. In conclusion, data from this study suggest possible chemopreventive benefit of AML alone or in combination with BMC against CPZ-associated neurobehavioural deficits. The ameliorative effect of AML may be related to its antioxidant and/or calcium channel blocking property.

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Objectives The use of Spathodea campanulata in folklore medicine for the management of reproductive disorders has been poorly reported. We sought to investigate the protective potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of S. campanulata stem bark extract (EFSC) on lead acetate-induced (LA) testicular toxicity in male rats. Methods Animals during a 28 days treatment received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.1%), LA (20 mg/kg), and EFSC (200 mg/kg). Others received EFSC only (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg) 1 h prior to LA (20 mg/kg) administration. Results LA administration decreased sperm counts and motility by 36.39 and 40.69% respectively in rats. Also, LA-untreated rats showed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total proteins in testis (260, 33%) and epididymis (62, 29%) respectively. However, EFSC (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) administrations improved sperm morphological characteristics as well as antioxidant status in LA-treated rats. EFSC (400 mg/kg) showed improved testis seminiferous tubules that were almost normal in the LA-treated rats. Further, EFSC contains a high 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester. Conclusions Overall, evidence by LA-induced testicular toxicity, EFSC provides chemopreventive roles via antioxidant mechanisms.

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