Central depressant activity of butanol fraction of Securinega virosa root bark in mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2012-05, Vol.141 (1), p.128-133
• Main Authors: Magaji, Mohammed Garba, Yaro, Abdullahi Hamza, Musa, Aliyu Muhammad, Anuka, Joseph Akponso, Abdu-Aguye, Ibrahim, Hussaini, Isa Marte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anxiolysis; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Butanol; Butanols - chemistry; Diazepam - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Elevated plus maze; Euphorbiaceae - chemistry; Female; Hypnotics and Sedatives - chemistry; Hypnotics and Sedatives - isolation & purification; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Hypnotics and Sedatives - toxicity; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Medicinal; Mice; Motor Activity - drug effects; Motor coordination; Phytotherapy; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Securinega virosa; Sedation; Sleep - drug effects; Solvents - chemistry; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.02.010

Securinega virosa is a commonly used medicinal plant in African traditional medicine in the management of epilepsy and mental illness. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that the crude methanol root bark extract of the plant possesses significant behavioral effect in laboratory animals. In an attempt to isolate and characterize the biological principles responsible for the observed activity, this study is aimed at evaluating the central depressant activity of the butanol fraction of the methanol root bark extract of Securinega virosa. The medial lethal dose of the butanol fraction was estimated using the method of Lorke. Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted on the butanol fraction using standard protocol. The behavioral effect of the butanol fraction (75, 150 and 300mg/kg) was evaluated using diazepam induced sleep test, hole-board test, beam walking assay, staircase test, open field test and elevated plus maze assay, all in mice. The median lethal dose of the butanol fraction was estimated to be 1256.9mg/kg. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, similar to those found in the crude methanol extract. The butanol fraction significantly (P