ABSTRACT
The antidepressant effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed extract were examined by assessing the extent of attenuation of behavioural alterations and oxidative damage in the rats that were stressed by forced swim test. Compared with the model control group, the altered behavioural parameters were attenuated significantly (P < 0.05) in the group treated with the flavonoid-rich fraction (100 and 200 mg·kg(-1)), comparable to the group treated with the standard drug, fluoxetine (10 mg·kg(-1)). The flavonoid-rich fraction and fluoxetine improved significantly (P < 0.05) the activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as other biochemical parameters such as reduced glutathione, protein, and nitrite in the brain of the stressed rats. These results suggested that the flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed extract exerted the antidepressant-like effects which could be useful in the management of stress induced disease.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Annonaceae , Chemistry , Antidepressive Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Antioxidants , Metabolism , Behavior, Animal , Brain , Metabolism , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Flavonoids , Therapeutic Uses , Fluoxetine , Therapeutic Uses , Oxidative Stress , Rats, Wistar , Seeds , Chemistry , SwimmingABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the flavonoid rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed on the haematology, histopathology and liver profile of Wistar albino rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Toxicity study was investigated on the flavonoid rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia in rats administered different concentrations orally for 28 d using standard laboratory procedures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The LD50 of the flavonoid rich fraction was found to be above 5 000 mg/kg body weight in mice observed for 48 h. After the Day 14, biochemical markers of liver injury such as serum alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly (P<0.05 at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight and P<0.01 at 400 mg/kg) while serum alkaline phosphatase increased non-significantly (P>0.05). There was non-significant (P>0.05) effect observed across the groups in the levels of serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine. The result of histological examination showed various degrees of peribiliary hepatitis after the Day 14 which fizzled out after the Day 28.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The result therefore suggests that the seed extract is potentially safe.</p>