Acute and Sub-Acute Evaluations of Parsonsia straminea Stem Bark Ethanol Extract Impact on Some Behavioral Parameters in Mice

Abstract

Objectives: The plant Parsonsia straminea (P.S) have little or no ethnopharmacological records but local claims; as such its behavioral impact determination leads this study. The study team is poised at assessing the changes in behaviors such as: Motor coordination, anxiety, and depression in single dose and repetitive dose(s) exposure. Methodology: Ethical consideration. The study proposal was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and approval was given. Plant collection and crude drug extraction. The plant was sourced from the Wilberforce rain forest of Nigeria and herbarium identification number, NDUP/21/001 was given in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Nigeria. The collected plant was processed for ethanol extraction according to the method described by Trease and Evans. Design. The study was designed into single (acute) and repetitive (sub-acute) treatments/exposures in all study methods. The acute were administered via oral and intraperitoneal route to ascertain safety and possible onset difference. The acute treatment groups: group, 1(VEH), 2 (100 mg/kg), 3 (200 mg/kg), 4 (400 mg/kg), 5 (800 mg/kg), 6 (1000 mg/kg) doses and sub-acute treatment groups include group: 1 (VEH), 2 (50 mg/kg), 3 (100 mg/kg), 4 (200 mg/kg), 5 (400 mg/kg) and 6 (800 mg/kg) treatment for 15 days (n=5), motor coordination (open field test, cataleptic test), depression (light & dark box test), memory function test (B-maze) and sleeping time test was applied to both acute and sub-acute. Results: Data from the P.S stem bark extract showed significant motor coordination, prevents sleep onset, and no depression potential in both acute and sub-acute treatments. Conclusion: The P.S stem bark extract proves stable impact on the CNS as it is indicated in behaviors evaluated in the animal model. However, beside all that are stated above, the extract of P. Straminea stem bark suggests usefulness in control of narcolepsy, cataplexy and sleep paralysis symptoms.