title: Neuropharmacological effects of extracts from Sickingia williamsii.
abstract: Sickingia williamsii Standl. (Rubiaceae) is used in Peruvian folk medicine for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we have examined the pharmacological profiles of petroleum ether, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9:1) and methanol extracts of the tree. Both chloroform-methanol (250, 500 or 750 mg kg-1, p.o.) and methanol (125, 250 or 500 mg kg-1, p.o.) extracts significantly reduced both the locomotor activity and motor co-ordination of mice; they also prolonged sleep induced by pentobarbital, although no significant cataleptic response was observed. These extracts did not have a significant impact on the nociceptive threshold in the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts did not, furthermore, induce any significant pharmacological effects. The results of the study suggest that these extracts possess neurosedative-like properties.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010568:Peru; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010424:Pentobarbital