Document Detail


Towards a better understanding of the psychopharmacology of nutmeg: Activities in the mouse tetrad assay.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19703539     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nutmeg, the seeds of Myritica fragrans (family Myristicaceae), is a well known kitchen spice with a long-standing reputation as a psychoactive herb. Nutmeg at high doses is considered a cheap substitute to several drugs of abuse. Earlier reports have attributed amphetamine-like activities to nutmeg.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To characterize the neuropharmacological effects of different nutmeg extracts, administered orally and intraperitoneally, in comparison to Delta(9)-terahydrocannabinol, amphetamine, and morphine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanolic (ME), dichloromethane (DE), and hexane (HE) extracts were obtained from a chromatographically fingerprinted batch of nutmeg. Biological evaluation was conducted in sets of 6-8 mice in the tetrad assay at doses ranging from 100 to 500 and 500 to 1000 mg/kg for i.p. and oral administration, respectively.
RESULTS: While oral administration of all the nutmeg extracts at 500 mg/kg caused a significant increase in locomotor activity, the i.p. administration of DE showed significant reduction in rectal temperature along with a significant increase in tail flick latency at 300 mg/kg. A significant decrease in core body temperature was observed with HE at 100 mg/kg, while higher doses caused significant increases in hot plate latency.
CONCLUSION: Different behavioral effects were observed that varied by the type of extract as well as by the route of administration.
Authors:
Abir T El-Alfy; Lisa Wilson; Mahmoud A ElSohly; Ehab A Abourashed
Related Documents :
16909439 - In vitro immunomodulatory activities of a newly concocted traditional chinese medicine ...
15740869 - A study of the acaricidal properties of an essential oil extracted from the leaves of a...
15138009 - Neuromuscular effects and acute toxicity of an ethyl acetate extract of spigelia anthel...
16414649 - Toxicity and anticoagulant activity of salvia splendens.
12164269 - Toxicity of chloroform extract of prunus africana stem bark in rats: gross and histolog...
17996689 - Anti-inflammatory effects of orally ingested lactoferrin and glycine in different zymos...
17904589 - The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide has effects on motivation and anxiety that are re...
19194779 - Efficacy of albendazole against nematode parasites isolated from a goat farm in ethiopi...
21450699 - Effect of radon measurement methods on dose estimation.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article     Date:  2009-08-22
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of ethnopharmacology     Volume:  126     ISSN:  1872-7573     ISO Abbreviation:  J Ethnopharmacol     Publication Date:  2009 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-11-02     Completed Date:  2010-03-23     Revised Date:  2011-09-26    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7903310     Medline TA:  J Ethnopharmacol     Country:  Ireland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  280-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Pharmacology Department, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, MS 38677, United States. aalfy2001@olemiss.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Amphetamine / administration & dosage,  pharmacology
Animals
Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
Body Temperature / drug effects*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Mice
Mice, Inbred Strains
Morphine / administration & dosage,  pharmacology
Motor Activity / drug effects*
Myristica fragrans / chemistry*
Pain Threshold / drug effects*
Plant Extracts / administration & dosage,  chemistry,  pharmacology*
Psychopharmacology
Rectum / drug effects
Seeds
Temperature
Tetrahydrocannabinol / administration & dosage,  pharmacology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
P20 RR021929-027765/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Plant Extracts; 1972-08-3/Tetrahydrocannabinol; 300-62-9/Amphetamine; 57-27-2/Morphine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential of Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Verd. leaf extract in ...
Next Document:  Comparative acute toxicities and immunomodulatory potentials of five Eastern Nigeria mistletoes.