title: Acute toxicity and general pharmacological effect on central nervous system of the crude rhizome extract of Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb.
abstract: Acute toxicity and general pharmacological activities of the crude hydro-alcoholic rhizome extract of Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb., a popular medicine used in Paraguay, were investigated on mice. The intraperitoneal LD50 was found to be 575 mg/kg. Oral administration of doses up to 3.0 g/kg did not provoke any toxic symptoms. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg of the extract induced a significant increase in gastrointestinal transit. In open field studies, a decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity, piloerection, passivity, palpebral ptosis, catatonia and a stereotyped behaviour was produced by the extract when administered orally (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg). A significant decrease in respiration rate was observed (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) using a continuous flow respiration system. Lastly, doses of 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg, p.o. of the extract produced a significant increase in the hypnotic effect induced by pentobarbital in a dose-dependent manner. The latest effects could probably explain its rational use in traditional medicine to alleviate stress or as a sedative agent.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Asuncion, Paraguay. inf-fcq@sce.cnc.una.py
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Helliön-Ibarrola
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ibarrola
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Montalbetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Heinichen
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ferro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010239:Paraguay; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010424:Pentobarbital