title: Curative Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract ofCrinum Giganteumon NMDA-Receptor Antagonist-Induced Schizophrenic Wistar Rat Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the curative potential ofCrinum giganteumin the treatment of schizophrenia using an NMDA-receptor antagonist-induced schizophrenic Wistar rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five adult Wistar rats of both sexes of average weights 180 g were divided into two groups: control and schizophrenic rat models. The controls received 0.1 ml of 0. 9% saline, while schizophrenia was induced in models using 25 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride (i.p.) for 7 days. On the 8 day models were divided into group's k1, k2, k3 and k4 of 5 rats each. K1 and the controls were sacrificed then, groups k2 and k3 were treated with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract ofCrinum giganteumwhile, k4 (standard) received 25 mg/kg of chlorpromazine orally for 28 days. Amygdala were harvested, processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H &E) stain, Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) marker was also used to monitor the curative effect on the amygdala.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Degenerative changes and increased NSE immunoreactivity were observed in the untreated models. Extract-treated models showed normal amygdala and negative NSE immunoreactivity while chlorpromazine treated models revealed decreased NSE immunoreactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crinum giganteum extracts exhibits better curative effect than the standard antipsychotic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Anatomy, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finbarrs-Bello
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Nebeuwa
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Obikili
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Esom Emmanuel
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Anayochukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anyanwu Emeka
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Godson
keywords: Amy Chlorpromazine; Amygdala; Crinum giganteum; NMDA; NSE; Schizophrenia