title: Anxiolytic and sedative activities of aqueous leaf extract of Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) is commonly used in the folk medicine in Cameroon to treat various ailments including headaches, jaundice, filariasis, neuritis and children's night agitation. It is also known to have anxiolytic properties. Since there were no scientific data supporting the above claims, we therefore aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic and sedative effects of the aqueous leaf extract of D. integrifolia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract used was obtained after maceration of leaves of D. integrifolia in water at room temperature. The anxiolytic effect was tested by the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and Open Field tests while the sedative effect was evaluated by the diazepam-induced sleep test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  D. integrifolia significantly induced an increase in the percentage of entries into open arms and a decrease in percentage of entries into closed arms at the dose of 22 mg/kg BW. The extract also induced a decrease of rearing and head dipping at the doses of 22 and 40 mg/kg BW during the EPM test. In addition, D. integrifolia extract induced a significant increase of crossing and time spent at the center of the experimental set at the dose of 40 mg/kg BW during the open field test. Lastly, D. integrifolia caused a significant reduction of the latency to sleep and an increase of total sleep time at the doses of 22 and 40 mg/kg BW in the diazepam-induced sleep test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of D. integrifolia is endowed with anxiolytic and sedative properties, which justify its traditional use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box.755, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: ketchawanda@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Germain Jean Magloire
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ketcha Wanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sefirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djiogue
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Franklin Zemo
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Gamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Steve Guemnang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ngitedem
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Dieudonné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Njamen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019659:Asteraceae; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003975:Diazepam
keywords: Anxiolytic; Dichrocephala integrifolia; Elevated plus-maze; Open field; Sedative