The effect of Rhazya stricta Decne, a traditional medicinal plant, on spontaneous and drug-induced alterations in activity of rats

Badreldin H. Ali*, Ahmed K. Bashir, Musbah O.M. Tanira

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)455-459
Number of pages5
JournalPharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume64
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Caffeine
  • Dizaepam
  • Locomotor activity
  • Rhazya stricta
  • Zoxazolamine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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