Effects of a hydroethanolic extract of Boophone disticha bulb on anxiety-related behaviour in naive BALB/c mice

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance Boophone disticha is one of the most important medicinal bulbs of Southern Africa. Previous in vitro studies have shown that it's crude ethanolic extracts and some alkaloidal phytoconstituents possesses high affinity for the serotonin transporter protein (SERT) and serotonin receptor 1a (5HT1a) which are both implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of anxiety disorders. However, there are no in vivo studies that validates the anxiolytic actions of the plant.

Aim of the study This study was therefore set to determine the anxiolytic-like activity of an orally administered hydroethanolic extract of B. disticha bulbs in naive mice using the behavioural tests of anxiety.

Materials and methods Naïve adult male BALB/c mice were randomly placed into five treatment groups (n=6–10): vehicle control (10 ml/kg 0.9% NaCl), positive control (1 mg/kg diazepam) and the hydroethanolic extract of B. disticha (10, 25 and 40 mg/kg p.o.). Souk test, elevared plus maze and open field tests were used to evaluate the anxiolytic-like activity of the B. disticha extract.

Results Diazepam-treated mice exhibited higher number of sector visits and line crossings in the ST, rearings in the OF and head dips in the EPM than the control (p<0.05). B. disticha extract treated groups expressed higher sector visits at 10 mg/kg, and, unprotected head dips at 25 mg/kg in the ST, as well as, open arm time entries at 10 mg/kg dose, and unprotected head dips at all doses in the EPM than the control group (p<0.05). The 25 mg/kg B. disticha dose group exhibited highest anxiolytic-like activity in both the ST and OF, while the 10 mg/kg was most active in the EPM.

Conclusion The extract of B. disticha exerted good anxiolytic-like activity in both the ST and OF at medium dose (25 mg/kg), while the low dose (10 mg/kg) showed prominent anxiolytic-like activity in the EPM.