No abstract

Mental illness refers to all diagnosable mental disorders which are characterised by abnormalities in thinking, feelings or behaviours. Ethnobotanical study surveyed the different types of medicinal plants used for the treatment of mental illness in Bassa, Pankshin, and Kanke Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. Information was obtained from traditional medicine practitioners, herbalist and herb sellers, with the aid of semi structured questionnaire. Plant samples were collected and identified by taxonomists in the herbarium section of Federal College of Forestry Jos and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. The information was obtained from a total of 35 respondents. Forty two plants were identified from the study, from 31 families. The source, uses, plant parts, and methods of preparation were some of the information derived. The family with the highest number of represented species was Lamiaceae accounting for 10% with a user value of 0.035. The dominant route of administration employed for drug delivery was oral accounting for up to 80% (56% as strictly oral). The plant parts mostly collected by the respondents for management of the conditions reported are leaves amounting to 51%. Some of the plants have recorded scientific values for neuropharmacological activities, whereas others are yet to be tested. It is important to validate these plants scientifically for possible neuropharmacological properties that may be harnessed for future use.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies were conducted on rats and mice using ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Ficus thonningii and stem back of Pseudocedrela kotschyi using egg white induce inflammation, hot plate and writhing tests method. The ethanolic extracts of both plants inhibited egg-albumin induced edema, pain induced by hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing. Ficus thonningii and Pseudocedrela kotschyi significantly alter the stay time of the rats on hot plate with Pseudocedrela kotschyi showing a higher activity. Both plants extracts show analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing (chemical method) with Pseudocedrela kotschyi showing a higher activity. Intraperitoneal LD 50 were 7g/kg and 1.5g/kg for Ficus thonningii and Pseudocedrela kotschyi respectively and preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids in both extracts. These results suggest that these plants possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties for which they are used by traditional healers.

No abstract

Background: An aphrodisiac can be defined as any type of food or drink that is capable of causing sexual desire or arousal, increase sexual potency and increase sexual pleasure. The use of synthetic aphrodisiacs results in unwanted side effects that are noxious to the patients, thus there is a growing need to look for aphrodisiacs of herbal origin with lesser side effects. Aim: The aim of the study is to conduct an Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used as aphrodisiacs in Bauchi Local Government area. Methods: Traditional medical practitioners with expertise in management of sexual problems were interview using a well structured ethnobotanical questionnaire Results: Medicinal plants such as Waltheria indica, Trephrosia purpurea, Hygrophilla auriculata, Gardiena erubescense, Olax subscorpioidea, Fadogia agrestis, Hymenocardia acida, Sabo et al.; JOCAMR, 4(4): 1-13, 2017; Article no.JOCAMR.39229 2 Borassus aethiopum, Dichrostachys cinerea and Cyperus esculentus were identified to be used singly as aphrodisiacs. Conclusion: All plants should be investigated scientifically to substantiate the traditional claims except Fadogia agretis which was pharmacologically proven to possess aphrodisiac activity. Original Research Article

Psychosis is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide and impairs the quality of life and productivity of the patients. Terminalia macroptera Guill & Perr. (Combrataceae) is a plant that is used in the management of anxiety related disorders. The present study investigates the antipsychotic effects of ethyl acetate fraction of T. macroptera (EFTM) leaf in ketamine-induced psychosis in mice. Acute toxicity of EFTM was determine using Lorke’s method. Ketamine (25 mg/kg) was injected once daily for 7 consecutive days in Swiss albino mice to induce psychosis. The effect of the extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated against psychotic-like behaviors induced by ketamine including locomotor activity and stereotypy in the open field test, immobility duration in the forced swim test, and memory impairment using the Y- maze test. The acute antipsychotic effect of EFTM was evaluated on apomorphine climbing test, while woodblock test was performed to assess its extrapyramidal side effects. The LD 50 was found to be 3807 mg/kg p.o. which is considered safe. EFTM (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) exhibited significant antipsychotic effect by reducing ketamine-induced hyperactivity, immobility, and memory deficit in mice, EFTM also suppressed stereotypic climbing behavior due to apomorphine. Accordingly, the antipsychotic activity of EFTM was not associated with extrapyramidal side effects as evidenced by lack of catalepsy. The study revealed that EFTM ameliorated psychotic-like symptoms and is devoid of extrapyramidal side effects in mice, underscoring its antipsychotic-like effect.

No abstract

No abstract