The Effect of Rhazya stricta Decne, a Traditional Medicinal Plant, on Spontaneous and Drug-Induced Alterations in Activity of Rats

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 1999-11, Vol.64 (3), p.455-459
• Main Authors: Ali, Badreldin H, Bashir, Ahmed K, Tanira, Musbah O.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Caffeine; Caffeine - pharmacology; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Diazepam - pharmacology; Dizaepam; Dopamine - physiology; Drug Interactions; General pharmacology; Locomotor activity; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity - drug effects; Muscle Relaxants, Central - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rhazya stricta; Time Factors; Zoxazolamine; Zoxazolamine - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/S0091-3057(99)00099-4

The effect of acute and chronic treatment of rats with a lyophilized extract of the leaves of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta on total and ambulatory activity was studied. Given acutely at single oral doses of 1, 2, 4, and 8 g/kg, the extract produced dose-dependent decreases in total activity and ambulatory activity. Diazepam (20 mg/kg, orally) produced a decrease in rat activity comparable to that produced by a dose of 1 g/kg of the extract. When given daily at an oral dose of 2 g/kg for 21 consecutive days, the extract produced, on the last day of treatment, significant decrease in activity amounting to about 30% of control activity levels. Subcutaneous (SC) treatment of rats with caffeine (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg), dose-dependently and significantly increased total activity and ambulatory activity. These effects were dose-dependently attenuated when the extract was given concommittantly with caffeine at oral doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg. Treatment of rats with zoxazolamine alone (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, SC) or R. Stricta (1 and 4 g/kg orally) alone significantly decreased total and ambulatory activities. Concomittant treatment with zoxazolamine and R. Stricta decreased the rats activity to a greater degree than with either treatment given alone.