RESUMO
AIM: This study evaluated the curative potential of Crinum giganteum in the treatment of schizophrenia using an NMDA-receptor antagonist-induced schizophrenic Wistar rat model. METHODS: Twenty-five adult Wistar rats of both sexes of average weights 180 g were divided into two groups: control and schizophrenic rat models. The controls received 0.1 ml of 0. 9% saline, while schizophrenia was induced in models using 25 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride (i.p.) for 7 days. On the 8 day models were divided into group's k1, k2, k3 and k4 of 5 rats each. K1 and the controls were sacrificed then, groups k2 and k3 were treated with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of Crinum giganteum while, k4 (standard) received 25 mg/kg of chlorpromazine orally for 28 days. Amygdala were harvested, processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H &E) stain, Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) marker was also used to monitor the curative effect on the amygdala. RESULTS: Degenerative changes and increased NSE immunoreactivity were observed in the untreated models. Extract-treated models showed normal amygdala and negative NSE immunoreactivity while chlorpromazine treated models revealed decreased NSE immunoreactivity. CONCLUSION: Crinum giganteum extracts exhibits better curative effect than the standard antipsychotic agent.
