Original Research
Effect of Ephedra altissima stems extract on behaviour in the mouse
Suhera M. Aburawi, Jamal S. Mezogi and khawla F. Abuelkhair
Abstract
Herbal
products are being paid particular attention by people around the world since
they are natural, effective, and without side effects. In modern medicine,
some drugs prescribed to the patients are derived from medicinal plants. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the
central nervous effects of methanol extract of Ephedra altissima stems,
in Albino mice. Doses of 500, 1500, and 3000 mg/kg of the methanol extract were administered
in sub-acute doses (three doses), intraperitoneally at 24, 5.0, and 1.0 hours
before scoring. General locomotor behavior profile, antidepressant activity, and
anxiolytic activity were studied. The results revealed that the methanol
extract of Ephedra altissima at 500, 1500, and 3000 mg/kg produced central
nervous system depression, a remarkable decrease in the immobility time (forced
swimming maze test), no anxiolytic-like effect by using elevated plus-maze
model of anxiety. These results suggest that methanol extract of Ephedra altissima
exhibits a central depressant activity, antidepressant-like activity, and
mild antipsychotic activity without anxiolytic-like effect in tested experimental
animal models with the doses used. Therefore, it can be concluded that Ephedra
altissima extract may have a central depression, antidepressant-like
activity with no effect as anxiolytic-like mood.