Psychopharmacological Potentials of Methanol Leaf Extract of Securinega virosa Roxb (Ex Willd) Baill. in Mice

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a highly disabling chronic psychiatric illness. The existing antipsychotic agents are associated with untoward effects and drug interactions leading to the intensification of search for newer agents with better efficacy and safety profile. Securinega virosa is a commonly used medicinal plant in African traditional medicine. The decoction of the leaves of the plant in combination with other plants is used in the management of mental illness. In this study, we evaluate the antipsychotic potential of the methanol leaf extract (25, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1)) of the plant using apomorphine-induced stereotypic climbing behavior and swim-induced grooming tests, all in mice. The CNS depressant effect was also evaluated using ketamine-induced sleep test mice. The extract at the highest dose tested (100 mg kg(-1)) significantly reduced the apomorphine (1 mg kg(-1))-induced stereotypic climbing behavior after 30 min. Similarly, haloperidol (2 mg kg(-1)), the standard agent significantly (p<0.001) decreased the mean climbing behavior. In the swim-induced grooming test, the extract significantly (p<0.01) and dose-dependently decreased the total grooming time. Similarly, haloperidol (2 mg kg(-1)) significantly (p<0.001) decreased the mean grooming activity. The extract significantly increased the total ketamine-induced sleep duration at doses of 50 and 100 mg kg(-1). These findings suggest that the extract possesses antipsychotic and sedative potentials and lend credence to the ethnomedical use of the leaves of the plant in the management of mental illness.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants commonly used in snakebites in North Western Nigeria

“…S. virosa has been reported to possess several medicinal advantages that were reported pharmacologically. Psychopharmacological potential (Magaji et al, 2014), anti-diabetic properties (Yusuf et al, 2010) and in vitro inhibition of glioblastoma multiforme cell survival (Magaji et al, 2015) of S. virosa were scientifically validated. The use of S. singuena was reported as an alternative or adjuvant therapy for malaria (Hiben et al, 2015).…”

The Effects of Securinega Virosa Leaves on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

“…Though several works on the sleep-inducing effect [20] and the psychopharmacological activities of S. virosa [21], this study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of methanol and different fractions of the extract of Securinega virosa leaves. The results obtained from this study show that the leaves of Securinega virosa possess antimicrobial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and also that the crude extract is most potent among the three extracts that were tested with the highest zone of inhibitions.…”

“…Presently, the exploitation of natural products of plants is now seen as a cheap and rich source of secondary metabolites for antimicrobials. The leaves, stem, and root bark extracts of Securinega virosa have been used in the management of different disorders in Nigeria [13,14] There is a paucity of scientific information on the potential antimicrobial activity profile of the leaf extract of Securinega virosa on MRSA strain. Antimicrobial evaluation is therefore required to predict the effectiveness of this resistance bacterial strain.…”

The Ambit of Phytotherapy in Psychotic Care

“…Decoction of the leaves and roots [76] The extract exhibited significant effect on D1 receptor by inhibiting grooming and climbing behaviors in rats [76]. The extract reduced the locomotive activity, rearing and sniffing in rats [78] Non -toxic [79] Alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, triterpenoid, phytosterols and glycosides [79] Fabaceae Amblygonocarpus andongensis…”