title: Effects on mice locomotor activity of a narcotic-like principle from Psidium guajava leaves.
abstract: Studies were carried out on the suppression of both exploratory and spontaneous locomotor activities in the mouse by a non-polar fraction from a methanol extract of the dried leaves of Psidium guajava. Shortly after intraperitoneal administration of this fraction, typical narcotic-like effects were observed, including catalepsy, analgesia, Straub tail, shallow respiratory movements and exophthalmos. The dose for 90% suppression of exploratory activity was between 3.3 and 6.6 mg/kg intraperitoneally and the onset of action was 6-8 min. The duration of activity was dose-dependent and, for a dose of 13.2 mg/kg given intraperitoneally, it was found to be more than 6 h. Qualitatively similar results on exploratory activity were obtained when the extract was administered orally. Doses of 3.3-6.6 mg/kg i.p. depressed spontaneous locomotor activity and tunnel running was curtailed. Higher doses abolished the spontaneous locomotor reflex action. A flavonoid compound or compounds appear to account for the activity seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lutterodt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleque
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000032:analysis*; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D010936:Plant Extracts