Anaesthetic effects of Adenia gummifera distillates on Apis mellifera (Honeybee).
The anaesthetic activities of steam distillates of Adenia gummifera stem on Apis mellifera were evaluated by a diffusion method. Live, direct and fractional (61-80 degrees C fraction) distillates had greater anaesthetic effect while vacuum distillates were mild. The anaesthetic activity significantly increased with concentration up to 6% (v/v), and then it levelled off, while excessive exposure was lethal. The number of bees in a given volume had no significant effect on anaesthetic activity but container volume (F(cal) = 66.4; F(3,8) = 4.07) and bee-distillate distance (F(cal) = 31.0; F(2,6) = 5.14) did, suggesting the rate of diffusion of active component could be the determining factor. The active component is likely to contain amines and the rest halogenated alkane.
Ngarivhume
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Chemistry Department, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa. tngarivhume@yahoo.com
Dzomba
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Gwizangwe
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Zendera
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Katsvanga
C A T
CA
Jimu
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L
Moyo
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M
Chagonda
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D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006722:Honey / Q000191:economics; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000494:pharmacology; D031683:Passifloraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D015030:Zimbabwe
D000588:Amines; D000777:Anesthetics; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated