Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents

The present study examined the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the aqueous extract of Alafia multiflora Stapf (AM) stem barks (150 and 300 mg/kg, 7 days administration) on rats and mice, using experimental paradigms of anxiety and depression. In the open field, the aqueous extract increased...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Harquin Simplice Foyet, David Emery Tsala, Armand Abdou Bouba, Lucian Hritcu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/912041
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850167819803557888
author Harquin Simplice Foyet
David Emery Tsala
Armand Abdou Bouba
Lucian Hritcu
author_facet Harquin Simplice Foyet
David Emery Tsala
Armand Abdou Bouba
Lucian Hritcu
author_sort Harquin Simplice Foyet
collection DOAJ
description The present study examined the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the aqueous extract of Alafia multiflora Stapf (AM) stem barks (150 and 300 mg/kg, 7 days administration) on rats and mice, using experimental paradigms of anxiety and depression. In the open field, the aqueous extract increased significantly the number of center square crossed and the time spent at the center of the field as well as the rearing time, while the grooming time was reduced significantly. In the elevated plus maze, the aqueous extract increased the time spent and the number of entries in the open arms. All these effects were also completely reversed by flumazenil, an antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors and pindolol a β-adrenoceptors blocker/5-HT 1A/1B receptor antagonist. The time spent in the light compartment, the latency time, and the number of the light-dark transitions increased significantly in the light/dark exploration test after the treatment with AM. The extract was able to reduce significantly the immobility time and increase swimming as well as climbing duration. Taken together, the present work evidenced anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of AM that might involve an action on benzodiazepine-type receptors and an antidepressant effect where noradrenergic mechanisms will probably play a role.
format Article
id doaj-art-dfa4135628d545e89a62f9e7c35cf726
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-6334
1687-6342
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
spelling doaj-art-dfa4135628d545e89a62f9e7c35cf7262025-08-20T02:21:07ZengWileyAdvances in Pharmacological Sciences1687-63341687-63422012-01-01201210.1155/2012/912041912041Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in RodentsHarquin Simplice Foyet0David Emery Tsala1Armand Abdou Bouba2Lucian Hritcu3Department of Agriculture, Livestock and By-Products, The Higher Institute of the Sahel, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46, Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 55, Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Agriculture, Livestock and By-Products, The Higher Institute of the Sahel, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46, Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bou/evard Carol I 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaThe present study examined the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the aqueous extract of Alafia multiflora Stapf (AM) stem barks (150 and 300 mg/kg, 7 days administration) on rats and mice, using experimental paradigms of anxiety and depression. In the open field, the aqueous extract increased significantly the number of center square crossed and the time spent at the center of the field as well as the rearing time, while the grooming time was reduced significantly. In the elevated plus maze, the aqueous extract increased the time spent and the number of entries in the open arms. All these effects were also completely reversed by flumazenil, an antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors and pindolol a β-adrenoceptors blocker/5-HT 1A/1B receptor antagonist. The time spent in the light compartment, the latency time, and the number of the light-dark transitions increased significantly in the light/dark exploration test after the treatment with AM. The extract was able to reduce significantly the immobility time and increase swimming as well as climbing duration. Taken together, the present work evidenced anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of AM that might involve an action on benzodiazepine-type receptors and an antidepressant effect where noradrenergic mechanisms will probably play a role.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/912041
spellingShingle Harquin Simplice Foyet
David Emery Tsala
Armand Abdou Bouba
Lucian Hritcu
Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
title Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
title_full Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
title_fullStr Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
title_full_unstemmed Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
title_short Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora Stem Barks in Rodents
title_sort anxiolytic and antidepressant like effects of the aqueous extract of alafia multiflora stem barks in rodents
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/912041
work_keys_str_mv AT harquinsimplicefoyet anxiolyticandantidepressantlikeeffectsoftheaqueousextractofalafiamultiflorastembarksinrodents
AT davidemerytsala anxiolyticandantidepressantlikeeffectsoftheaqueousextractofalafiamultiflorastembarksinrodents
AT armandabdoubouba anxiolyticandantidepressantlikeeffectsoftheaqueousextractofalafiamultiflorastembarksinrodents
AT lucianhritcu anxiolyticandantidepressantlikeeffectsoftheaqueousextractofalafiamultiflorastembarksinrodents