The current study aimed to
investigate the neuropharmacological properties of ethanol, acetone, and
ethyl acetate leaf extracts of Chassalia curviflora (C. curviflora)
in mouse models. The neuropharmacological properties of this plant were
studied on Swiss albino mice at dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body
weight in thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time test, and at dosages
of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight in other tests. The extracts caused a
marked reduction in the initiation and sleep length (P<0.05) in studies on thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg and a significant decrease (P<0.05)
was found in terms of unconstrained locomotor and explorative
activities in both hole crossing and open field tests at dosages of 100
and 200 mg/kg. Furthermore, the extracts increased sleeping time with a
dosage-dependent onset of action. The hole-board test extracts also
reduced the number of head dips at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg (P<0.05). It was found in this study that C. curviflora had the best neuropharmacological properties at a dosage of 200 ml/kg. Our findings also showed that all of the extracts from C. curviflora were experimentally active in an in vivo model.
The study results suggested that the leaves had strong anti-depressant
and hypnotic CNS properties that might be exploited for
neuropharmacological adjuvant therapy in conventional medicine. However,
pharmacological studies are warranted to explore the active substances
and the mode of action.