The aqueous extract of Terminalia macroptera possess anxiolytic and antipyretic activities in mice

Abstract

Terminalia macroptera is a plant used in traditional medicine in many countries in Africa to treat headaches, epilepsy, anxiety, agitation, depressions, etc. Terminalia macroptera is found in Cameroon. Elevated plus maze, stress-induced hyperthermia and open field tests were used to determine anxiolytic properties of the plant. The doses of the plant used were 20, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. T. macroptera showed antipyretic properties by reducing in a dose dependent manner the body temperature that changed from 30.73 ± 0.70°C to 28.28 ± 0.41°C at the dose of 200 mg/kg. T. macroptera showed also anxiolytic activities in the three tests. In stress-induced hyperthermia test, T. macroptera antagonised dose dependently increase of temperature. ΔT° decrease from 1.20°C in the control group to 0.26°C at the dose of 200 mg/kg. In the elevated plus maze test, T. macroptera strongly and significantly increased the number of entries into the open arms, the % of entries and time into the open arms, and reduced the % of entries and time into the closed arms. Rearing and head dipping were as well decreased. In the open field test, T. macroptera increased the number of crossing, centre time and grooming and reduced the number rearing and defecation. The results lead to conclude that the decoction of T. macroptera possesses anxiolytic and antipyretic properties in mice and could really be helpful in the treatment of fever and anxiety in Traditional medicine in Cameroon.