Publication:

Pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and sub-acute toxicity studies of Trichilia monadelpha aqueous extract

Background Trichilia monadelpha is used either alone or in combination with other plants to treat many diseases in West Africa. Earlier, the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-parasitic effects of the plant have been investigated to confirm its folkloric use. The current study is aimed at investigating the sub-acute toxicity profile as well as hypno-sedative effect of the Trichilia monadelpha aqueous extract (TAE).

Methods For the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping test, rats (150-200 g, n=5) were pre-treated with TAE (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) or distilled water (control group) 30 minutes before they were challenged with Pentobarbitone Sodium (50 mg/kg body weight, i.p). Sleeping time of each animal was recorded and analysed. In the sub-acute toxicity test, rats were treated daily either TAE (30, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) or water (control group) for two weeks after which the animals were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analyses. Specific organs were then removed and weighed immediately.

Results The pentobarbitone-induced sleeping test resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increase in the duration of sleep of the rats. There were however no significant changes in the relative weight of vital organs of the control and TAE treated groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences in haematological and biochemical parameters between control and TAE treated groups.

Conclusions TAE significantly and dose-dependently increased the duration of pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time in rats. TAE showed no significant changes in the relative weight of the vital organs, haematological and biochemical parameters.