Abstract

DIAZEPAM LIKE EFFECTS OF HERBAL EXTRACT ACACIA TORTILIS GROWING IN KSA ON LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY IN MICE

Waheeb D. M Alharbi and Aisha Azmat*

Abstract

Aims: Acacia Tortilis belong to Fabaceae. In Acacia Tortilis lack of essential oils can be an advantage in search for safe and effective medicines. In present study the effect of the Acacia Tortilis leaves extract were evaluated on locomotor activity. Study Design: Effect of Acacia on locomotor activity Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah. Saudi Arabia. This study was performed between January 2012 and May 2012. Methodology: The Aqueous extracts of the leaves were prepared. Two Different doses of the extracts (400 and 800 mg/Kg) were administered either orally (p.o.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) in the mice and locomotor activity were evaluated in mice in open field at different doses. Results: The spontaneous locomotor activity measured in the open field test after the administration of Acacia Tortilis leaves (400 and 800 mg/Kg) extract, was not modify significantly. Although high dose of Extract (800 mg\Kg) when administered intraperitoneally (i.p) was found to affect locomotor activity significantly (P<0.05) in mice this effect is comparable with positive control Diazepam (DZP; 1.3 mg/Kg) which was found to decrease the locomotor activity (Square crossed by mice) significantly (P<0.05). Major conclusion: The present study suggests that intraperitoneal administration of Acacia significantly decrease the motor activity in open field test. The results suggest that low doses or oral (p.o.) administration is ineffective while high doses decrease the locomotor activities. This property of Acacia leave extract is comparable with DZP.

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