title: Standardized extract of Ficus platyphylla reverses apomorphine-induced changes in prepulse inhibition and locomotor activity in rats.
abstract: Preparations of Ficus platyphylla are used in Nigeria's folk medicine to manage a plethora of diseases including, insomnia, psychoses, depression, epilepsy, pain and inflammation. In this study, we examined the effects of the standardized methanol extract of F. platyphylla stem bark (FP) on apomorphine-induced changes in prepulse inhibition and locomotor activity in rats, as well as on the retrieval of a conditioned reaction in one-way active avoidance in mice. FP did not affect basal prepulse inhibition, but significantly reduced locomotor activity. The apomorphine-induced prepulse inhibition deficit and hyperactivity were significantly reversed by co-administration of clozapine or FP. Furthermore, FP inhibited the retrieval of a conditioned avoidance reaction. Our results revealed that FP contains psychoactive ingredients with neuroleptic-like properties, thus supporting the isolation and development of the biologically active components of this medicinal plant as antipsychotic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ben A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chindo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trzeczak
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dehmel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center of Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: markus.fendt@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fendt
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065808:Prepulse Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003024:Clozapine; D001058:Apomorphine
keywords: Apomorphine; Clozapine; Conditioned avoidance responding; Ficus platyphylla; Neuroleptics; Pole jumping; Prepulse inhibition; Psychoses; Rats; Schizophrenia