Neurobehavioural effects of Vigna unguiculata spp Dekindtiana (L.) Walp in mice

Adekunle Theophilus Adegbuyi, Deparment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti-State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria., Moses Atanda Akanmu, Gbola Olayiwola, Deparment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti-State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria.
2019 Journal of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Science  
The study investigated the pharmacological effects of the extract and fractions of Vigna unguiculata spp dekindtiana. The neurobehavioural parameters investigated in this study include: rearing, grooming and locomotion as well as pentobarbital-induced sleeping time model as a measure of the sedative effect of the plant. The neuropharmacological profile of the plant was determined in mice. The extract and fractions were administered orally at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg for
more » ... ed behavior while phenobarbital-induced sleeping time was assessed at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The result obtained showed significant decrease in rearing, grooming and locomotion with increase in the dose of the extract and the fractions indicating the central inhibitory effect of the plant extract. The possible mechanism of action of the novelty-induced behaviours was investigated by using picrotoxin (GABAA antagonist), cyproheptadine (5HT2 antagonist), yohimbine (alpha2 adrenergic antagonist). The result of the study showed the reversal of the novelty-induced rearing and locomotion with picrotoxin while the reduction in novelty-induced behaviour (rearing and locomotion) was potentiated by both cyproheptadine and yohimbine. This shows the possibility of GABAergic, serotonergic and adrenergic involvement in the behavioural effects of the extract and its fractions. Also, the methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction showed dose-dependent increase in sleeping time and dose-dependent decrease in sleep latency indicating the hypnotic effect of the extract of the plant. The possible mechanism of action of the phenobarbital-induced sleeping time was investigated using flumazenil (an antagonist of GABA), where a reversal was obtained suggesting the possible involvement of GABAergic receptor. In conclusion, the result showed that methanol extract and its fractions exhibited both central inhibitory effect and hypnotic effect in mice.
doi:10.31248/jdps2019.021 fatcat:3utdwdw2irhmtklmdz65ype6qe