Neuropharmacological effects of <em>Alchornea cordifolia</em> (Schumach. & Thonn.) Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice

Abstract

Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a common plant, which has featured prominently in traditional medicinal practice. It has been reported that the decoction of the leaves is taken as central nervous system stimulant. This work was therefore undertaken to examine the central nervous system effects. The neuropharmacological profile of the plant was determined in mice to which the plant extract had been orally administered at respective doses of 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg. The behavioral models used included noveltyinduced behaviors (locomotion, rearing and grooming), holeboard and elevated plus maze (anxiolytic) and forced swimming (antidepressant). The Y-maze was used for the investigation of the plant extract on locomotion, learning and memory. The results obtained showed that both locomotor and rearing activities were significantly decreased at the highest dose of 1000 mg/kg orally, while grooming behavior was significantly decreased at all the doses administered. In the hole board experiment, the frequency of head-dips was decreased significantly at 1000 mg/kg, while there was no significant effect observed in the elevated plus maze. Y-maze model results showed that it had no significant effect on spatial memory. There was no significant difference in the immobility duration due to administration of the extract in the forced swimming test. In conclusion, the present study showed that although the ethanolic leaf extract of A. cordifolia exhibited some central inhibitory effect, it is devoid of anxiolytic, antidepressant activities and has no significant effect on learning and memory in mice.

Evaluation of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity effects of acute and sub-acute oral administration of unripe ackee (Blighia sapida) fruit extract

“…Locomotion is considered an excitatory behavior mediated mainly through dopaminergic pathways and a decrease in locomotor activity in rodent is suggestive of a possible CNS-depressant activity [39]. Unripe ackee has been reported to cause CNS depression in human toxicity case studies [40,17].…”

Medicinal plants with reported anxiolytic and sedative activities in Nigeria: A systematic review

“…This is shown in from this analogy. As such, low anxiolytic activity was seen at a lower dose and high anxiolytic activity at a higher dose by Albizia glaberrima (Adebesin et al, 2015), Alchornea cordifolia (Akanmu et al, 2011), Alternanthera brasiliana (Oyemitan et al, 2015a), Artocarpus altitis (Onasanwo et al, 2017), Asystesia gangetica (Adeyemi et al, 2014), Cissus cornifolia (Yaro et al, 2015b), Hippocratea africana (Okokon et al, 2014), Leonotis nepetifolia (Ayanwuyi et al, 2016), Maerua angolensis (Malami et al, 2014b), Ocimum gratissimum (Okoli et al, 2010b), Parkia biglobosa (Tijjani et al, 2014), Piliostigma thonningii (Adamu et al, 2013), and Senna occidentalis (Cleatus et al, 2017). Similarly, high sedative property was seen at a lower dose with low sedative property at a higher dose by Hedranthera barteri (Onasanwo et al, 2010) and Musa sapientum (Salako et al, 2018).…”