title: The effect of Rhazya stricta Decne, a traditional medicinal plant, on spontaneous and drug-induced alterations in activity of rats.
abstract: The effect of acute and chronic treatment of rats with a lyophilized extract of the leaves of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta on total and ambulatory activity was studied. Given acutely at single oral doses of 1, 2, 4, and 8 g/kg, the extract produced dose-dependent decreases in total activity and ambulatory activity. Diazepam (20 mg/kg, orally) produced a decrease in rat activity comparable to that produced by a dose of 1 g/kg of the extract. When given daily at an oral dose of 2 g/kg for 21 consecutive days, the extract produced, on the last day of treatment, significant decrease in activity amounting to about 30% of control activity levels. Subcutaneous (SC) treatment of rats with caffeine (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg), dose-dependently and significantly increased total activity and ambulatory activity. These effects were dose-dependently attenuated when the extract was given concomitantly with caffeine at oral doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg. Treatment of rats with zoxazolamine alone (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, SC) or R. Stricta (1 and 4 g/kg orally) alone significantly decreased total and ambulatory activities. Concomitant treatment with zoxazolamine and R. Stricta decreased the rats activity to a greater degree than with either treatment given alone.
authors.affiliation: Desert and Marine Environment Research Centre, University of the United Arab Emirates, Al-Ain.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tanira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D015049:Zoxazolamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002110:Caffeine; D015049:Zoxazolamine; D003975:Diazepam; D004298:Dopamine