Abstract:
Antiaris toxicaria is a plant traditionally used in Ghana for the treatment of various neurological conditions
such as epilepsy and pain. This present study therefore seeks to screen for the neuropharmacological
activities of the aqueous extract of Antiaris toxicaria (AAE) stem bark. The effect of Antiaris extract on
pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, tail immersion test, spontaneous locomotor activity, motor
coordination, PTZ-induced convulsions as well as the Irwin test was investigated. The extract produced
analgesia and Straub tail at (300-3000 mg kg−1) in the Irwin test suggestive of a morphine-like action. These
effects were absent after 24 h. No deaths were recorded in the test estimating the LD50 to be above 3000 mg
kg−1. Spontaneous locomotor activity of the mice in the activity meter test was decreased significantly
(p<0.01, F4, 20 = 26.61) by the extract at 100 mg kg−1 but increased at 300-3000 mg kg−1. It however showed
no impairment on motor coordination in the beam traversal test. The extract potentiated duration of sleeping
time in the pentobarbitone interaction test and showed susceptibility to metabolism by hepatic enzymes.
Analgesic properties were also further confirmed in the tail withdrawal test while it inhibited PTZ-induced
convulsions. Thus, Antiaris may be a potential source for novel drug discovery in the field of
neuropsychiatric research.
