Ethno-Medicinal Plants and Methods used by Gwandara Tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria; to Treat Mental Ilness

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey; various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music; incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations - decoction; powder; infusion - which are administered in various ways like fumigation; inhalation; bathing; steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion; there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such; at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge

Ethno-Medical Plants and Methods Used by Gwandara Tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria; to Treat Mental Illness

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey; various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music; incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations - decoction; powder; infusion - which are administered in various ways like fumigation; inhalation; bathing; steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion; there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such; at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge

Ethno-medicinal plants and methods used by Gwandara tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria, to treat mental illness.

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey, various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music, incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations--decoction, powder, infusion--which are administered in various ways like fumigation, inhalation, bathing, steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion, there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such, at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract of Parinari polyandra stem bark in rats and mice.

The methanolic extract of the stem bark of Parinari polyandra (family Rosaceae) was investigated for possible anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice and rats. Three models were used to study the extracts effects on nociception which were the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test, hot-plate method (both in mice) and the formalin test in rats. The anti-inflammatory effects were investigated employing the albumin-induced hind-paw oedema in rats. Results of the study revealed the extract to have significant (P<0.05) anti-nociceptive effect at a dose of 200 mg/kg p.o. in mice and rats in all the models for anti-nociception while 100 mg/kg p.o. showed significant (P<0.05) effect in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test and in phase I of the formalin test. The extract also exhibited anti-inflammatory effects which were found to be significant (P<0.05) at 200 mg/kg p.o. in the rats tested. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and saponin glycoside. The results suggest the extract contains pharmacologically active principles. The result is in agreement with the local application of the plant in painful and inflammatory conditions.

Smooth muscle contraction induced by Indigofera dendroides leaf extracts may involve calcium mobilization via potential sensitive channels.

The contractile effects of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Indigofera dendroides (ID) were studied on the gastrointestinal motility in mice and isolated smooth muscle preparations obtained from rats and guinea pigs. The contractile effects of 10(-6) M acetylcholine, 80 mM KCl and 1.6 mg/ml ID were measured on the rat ileal smooth muscle exposed to calcium-free buffer or physiological solution, to determine the calcium pools mobilized by extract for activation of contraction. Acute toxicity test (LD(50)) was also carried out in mice. The result showed that ID (0.05-3.2 mg/ml) produced a concentration-dependent contraction of the guinea pig and rat ileum. These responses were not blocked by mepyramine (2.49 x 10(-9) M), verapamil (8.14 x 10(-9) M), or pirenzepine (4.7 x 10(-7) M), but were blocked completely by atropine (2.92 x 10(-9) M). A significant increase in propulsion of gastrointestinal motility was observed. Acetylcholine, KCl and ID produced contractions in Ca(2+) free media. The phasic components of the contractile responses to Ach as well as the tonic component of K(+) and ID-induced contractions were relatively resistant to short periods of calcium-free exposure. Ach, K(+) and ID still caused contractions in the presence of verapamil. The data revealed that ID-induced contractions were not mediated by histaminergic receptors, calcium channels, M1 muscarinic receptors. It also suggests that Ach mobilize Ca from some tightly bound or intracellular pool, whereas high K(+) and ID may mobilize Ca from some superficial or loosely-bound pool.

Pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Neorautanenia mitis in rodents.

The pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Neorautanenia mitis (family Papilonaceae) were studied in rodents. Investigations were carried out on acetic acid-induced writhing (pain) in mice and hind paw oedema in rats. The effects of the extract were also studied on the isolated non-pregnant rat uterus and rabbit jejunum. Results showed the extract to possess significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activity between 12.5 and 50.0 mg/kg p.o. in mice and slight anti-inflammatory activity at 25 and 50 mg/kg p.o. in rats. The extract also produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the normal rhythmic contraction of the isolated non-pregnant rat uterus. It was found to inhibit oxytocin-induced as well as acetylcholine-induced contractions in the rat uterus. The extract also exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous contractions of the rabbit jejunum. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of saponin glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids. The extract had an intraperitoneal (i.p.) LD(50) of 282.84+/-3.2 mg/kg in mice. These data corroborate the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.