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Aripiprazole, a known third generation anti-psychotic drug. The drug has shown to have lesser side effects on extrapyramidal system and enhance memory when compared with the first-generation anti-psychotic drugs. However, studies on the impact of aripiprazole on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice have been poorly reported. This study was designed to investigate the impact of aripiprazole on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Thirtysix (36) mice weighing between 20-23g were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 was given 10 ml/kg distilled water. Group 2 received 3 mg/kg scopolamine alone. Group 3 was given 1 mg/kg donepezil. Group 4 received 0.5 mg/kg aripiprazole. Group 5 was given 0.3 mg/kg aripiprazole. Group 6 received 0.1mg/kg aripiprazole. Thirty minutes after administration of either aripiprazole or donepezil, scopolamine (3 mg/kg) was administered, intraperitoneally. The administration was for 7days, during which their memory was assessed using Morris water maze and Y-maze models. The results showed that the anti-amnesic effect of aripiprazole appeared to be dosedependent; the animals administered with 0.5 mg/kg aripiprazole showed the greatest improved memory performance against scopolamine-induced amnesia. The hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissues displayed anti-amnesic potential of aripiprazole. Aripiprazole seems to improved memory performance against scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Keywords: Aripiprazole; Anti-amnesic; Scopolamine; Memory

Background The increasing incidence of chemically induced infertility is both a social threat and a threat to the continuation of life itself. Treatment or management therapy is often expensive. This study investigated the effects of acetone extract of a local plant (Curcuma longa) in a Wistar rat model of cimetidine‐induced pituitary‐testicular dysfunction. Methods Thirty‐five male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats. After a phytochemical screening of an acetone extract of C. Longa, cimetidine and the extract at three doses, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg, were orally co‐administered to the rats for 28 consecutive days. Comparisons were made (at P

This study investigated the effects of proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (PRF) of Vitis vinifera seed extract on the markers of hippocampal-dependent memory in convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) rat model. One hundred juvenile Wistar rats were randomized into 6 groups. Group 1 (n = 10) received propylene glycol (PG 0.1 ml/100 g) intraperitoneally (i.p), while convulsion was induced in groups 2–6 (n = 18 each) using lithium (127 mg/kg i.p) and pilocarpine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg i.p). The established CSE rats in groups 2–6 received a daily treatment of PG (0.1 ml i.p), PRF (30 mg/kg i.p), PRF (20 mg/kg BW i.p), PRF (10 mg/kg BW i.p) or diazepam (5 mg/kg BW i.p) for seven days. Thereafter, they were kept untreated but with access to feed and water for 21 days. The control and CSE-treated rats were subjected to behavioral tests, while the biochemical and histomorphological evaluations of the hippocampus were done after the sacrifice. The results were presented as mean ± SEM in graphs or tables. The level of significance was considered when p There was significant decrease in the hippocampal-dependent memory, hippocampal weight and an increased malondialdehyde concentration following CSE. The activities of acetylcholinesterase decreased significantly in the PRF-treated CSE rats. The hippocampal glial cells and granule count increased significantly following CSE, with various neurodegenerative features in the CA1 of the hippocampus. These derangements were attenuated significantly following PRF treatment. Memory impairment following CSE may be attenuated with the administration of PRF from V. vinifera seed in rats.

Cyclosporine (CYA), a common immuno-suppressant drug that is used in organ transplants, is associated with nephrotoxic effects. Scientific exploration of natural products of plant origin should be considered; especially, in a world with increasing prevalence of kidney diseases. Effects of ginger polyphenols (GP) in Wistar rats with CYA-induced perturbations in electrolyte balance and kidney function was determined. Fifty Wistar rats were recruited for this study such that graded doses of GP were administered following CYA-induced kidney injury and comparisons were made against control and toxic groups at p + and K + electrolyte balance as well as creatinine clearance. Also, there was a significant derangement in feeding pattern and relative kidney weight. Using GSH and SOD as antioxidant indicators, there was significant disturbance of the anti-oxidant system while histopathological results showed evidence of interstitial vacuolations with atrophic glomeruli. These conditions were significantly attenuated (p

In this study, we evaluated the effects of air-dried Spondias mombin leaves extracted with aqueous, methanol and ethanol solvents on hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and novelty-induced rearing (NIR) behaviours in mice and rats. We also studied the effect of the extracts on amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced stereotyped and picrotoxin-induced convulsive behaviour in rats. All residues from different extractions were dissolved in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). The methanolic and ethanolic extracts (12.5-100mg/kg i.p.) prolonged the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduced the NIR in both mice and rat in a dose-dependent manner. The aqueous extract prolonged the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduced (NIR) at doses of 50 and 100mg/kg. The inhibitory effect of the extracts on NIR was not reversed by atropine, yohimbine, naltrexone and flumazenil. However, the extracts blocked the facilitating effect of flumazenil. This suggests that NIR inhibitory effects of extracts of Spondia mombin are not mediated via muscarinic, alpha(2) adrenergic, and mu-opioid receptors, whereas, the extracts appear to facilitate GABAergic transmission. In addition the extracts blocked picrotoxin-induced convulsions. Phenolic compound(s) were present in the ethanolic and methanolic extracts, which exhibited anticonvulsant properties in the picrotoxin-induced convulsions model. The extracts decreased the amphetamine/apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour, which suggest that these extracts possess antidopaminergic activity. The effect of the extracts on hexobarbitone-induced sleeping time was blocked by flumazenil a GABA(A) antagonist, indicating that the extracts contain GABA(A) agonists. These results suggest that the leaves extracts of Spondias mombin possess sedative and antidopaminergic effects.

Summary Folkloric evidence and scientific reports indicate the use of C. podocarpa fruit as a purgative recipe. This study attempts to find the in vitro effects of its aqueous infusion (ACPF) and methanolic extract (MCPF) on the motility of the intestine of albino rats of Wistar strain and to compare their effect with those of C. acutifolia fruit (ACAF and MCAF). MCPF relaxed both the ileum and colon dose dependently. Its effect was blocked by tolazoline (10 –9 M) and propranolol (10 –9 M). ACPF had no effect on the ileum, but contracted the colon dose-dependently. Its effect was blocked by nifedipine (2.8 × 10 –10 M) and drastically reduced by atropine (3.4 × 10 –6 M). MCAF has the same effect as ACPF on both ileum and colon and its effect was similarly affected by atropine (3.4 × 10 –6 M) and nifedipine (2.8 × 10 –8 M). ACAF relaxed the ileum, its effect was blocked by tolazoline (5.1 × 10 –7 M). MCAF was more potent than ACPF in contracting the colon, Hexamethonium (2.8 × 10 –8 M), chlorpheniramine (3.8 × 10 –8 M) and promethazine (3.2 × 10 –10 M) potentiated the effect of ACPF on the colon. The results suggest that both ACAF and MCPF have anti-diarrhoeal effect. MCPF acts via both a and b adrenergic receptor stimulation, while ACAF stimulates a-receptor. ACPF and MCAF engage both the cholinergic system and calcium channel activation in causing purgation in the colon. The potentiation of the effect of ACPF by some blockers could be due to allosteric enhancement of the receptors involved in its action.

This study attempted to elucidate the neurotransmitter systems involved in the neurophysiological properties of ethanolic extract, fractions and pure isolates of Spondias mombin leaves in mice (n = 6) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration.The crude ethanolic extract of Spondian mombin leaves was fractionated using the partitioning method to obtain the ethylacetate, butanolic and aqueous fractions. Open column chromatographic fractionation of the ethylacetate fraction yielded seven sub-fractions, out of which the pure coumaroyl, quercetin and gallic acid derivatives were obtained after purification on Sephadex LH 20. The ethanolic extract, butanolic fraction, ethylacetate subfractions and pure isolates of the Spondian mombin leaves were tested on novelty-induced rearing and grooming behaviours in mice with standard pharmacological tools using the open field method. The extract and its fractions decreased novelty-induced rearing in a dose-dependent manner. While the Coumaroyl derivative had no effect on novelty-induced rearing, it significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of yohimbine, propranolol and haloperidol on novelty-induced rearing. Quercetin significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone significantly potentiated the quercetin-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing. Gallic acid derivative significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone, atropine and haloperidol pretreatments significantly potentiated gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing.The extract and its fractions had biphasic effect on novelty-induced grooming in mice. Coumaroyl derivative significantly increased novelty-induced grooming, while quercetin and gallic acid derivative decreased novelty-induced grooming significantly. The three pure isolates significantly reversed the effects of yohimbine and atropine on the novelty-induced grooming in mice. Propranolol-induced increase in novelty-induced grooming was significantly reversed by coumaroyl and gallic acid derivatives. Pre-treatment with naloxone significantly increased the gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced grooming. Pre-treatment with haloperidol reversed the effect of coumaroyl derivative and potentiated the inhibitory effect of quercetin derivative and gallic acid derivative significantly. This study suggested that adrenergic and dopaminergic neuro-transmissions are strongly involved in the neural mechanisms of the effect of the three pure isolates derivative, while opioid neuro-transmission is strongly linked with the neural mechanism of behavioural effect of coumaroyl derivative.

This study aimed at determining changes in urine concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) of Plasmodium berghei infected rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day) and one week thereafter. Their concentrations and that of creatinine and urea in the plasma were also determined at the end of the study. The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the kidneys of the rats. The urine levels of the two electrolytes decreased significantly during treatment (P

The in-vitro effects of methanolic extract (MCSL) and aqueous infusion (ACSL) of the leaves of C. sieberiena on the motility of the rat intestines were studied and compared with those of C. acutifolia (MCAL and ACAL) “Senna”. All the extracts and infusion relaxed the ileum dose-dependently. Their effects were blocked by tolazoline, indicating that a–adrenergic receptors were involved. MCSL contracted the colon dose-dependently and was blocked by atropine(1.7x10-8 M) and nifedipine (2.8x10-10M). ACSL contracted this segment at 2.0-8.0 mg/ml and relaxed it at 8.0-16.0mg/ml. Its relaxant effect was blocked by tolazoline (1.0x10-6M), indicating the involvement of a– adrenergic receptors . MCAL had a slight relaxant effect on the colon, while ACAL contracted it dose dependently and was blocked by promethazine (3.1x10-8M) and nifedipine (2.8 x 10-8M), indicating that H1-receptor stimulation and increased intracellular calcium ion concentration are involved. MCSL was more potent than ACAL, while ACSL and ACAL were equipotent in contracting the colon. With proper processing C. sieberiena can be substituted for C. acutifolia.

1. The effects of artemether (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg per day, i.m.), administered to different groups of Plasmodium berghei-infected and -uninfected adult Wistar rats for 1 week, were investigated. 2. The parameters evaluated were the feeding, drinking and urinating patterns of the rats and these were compared with those of rats that received normal saline. 3. Artemether caused a significant dose-dependent reduction in food consumption of both P. berghei-infected and -uninfected rats (P < 0.05). Food intake in infected rats was reduced by approximately 7 g/24 h. This reduction in food intake was further reduced during drug treatment with artemether. Artermether also reduced food intake in uninfected rats. The food consumption of rats that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg artemether was restored after stopping treatment, in contrast with rats that received 50.0 mg/kg, in which the significant reduction in food consumption persisted 1 week after drug administration. 4. During treatment with artemether, the water intake of infected rats was significantly lower than that of uninfected rats in the 12.5 mg/kg artemether-treated group, but was significantly higher in infected rats than in uninfected rats dosed with 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether. 5. For all doses of artemether tested, a significant increase in urine output was observed in infected rats during treatment and 1 week after treatment, whereas in uninfected rats a significant increase in urine output was observed only following 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether 1 week after drug administration. 6. The present study confirms the anorexic activity of a high dose of artemether in both P. berghei-infected and -uninfected rats. It also indicates that high doses of the drug could cause impaired renal function in rats and that the significant increase in urine output could also be due to other effects of artemether, namely those on thirst, anti-diuretic hormone output and the osmotic pressure of the blood.

Spondias mombin L [Anacardiaceae] is a plant used by traditional medical practitioners in Nigeria in the treatment of various nervous disorders. In this study, the anxiolytic properties of the aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of the leaves were examined using aggressive-behaviour response and depression-related swimming behaviour activities. All the extracts administered orally were not toxic to mice up to a dose of 5 g/kg. On intraperitoneal injection, however, the LD50 values [mice/rats] were calculated to be 0.48 g/kg / 0.62 g/kg for ethanol extract, 1.10 g/kg / 1.08 g/kg for methanol extract and 1.36 g/kg / 1.42 g/kg for aqueous extract respectively. All residues from different extractions were dissolved in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally. It was found that the three extracts abolished the aggressive attacks by rats, and reduced swimming time in mice. These effects were found to be most potent with the administration of the ethanol extract. These effects of the extracts were blocked by flumazenil, an antagonist of GABAA receptor. The results suggest that the extracts of Spondias mombin possess anxiolytic effect mediated by GABAergic transmission.