Behavioural and neurochemical characterisation of the anxiolytic properties of an aqueous extract of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants (Chenopodiaceae) in experimental mice

Bigued; Germain Sotoing Taiwe; Jacqueline Stephanie Kameni Njapdounke; Joseph Ngaibi; Yvette Nguezeye; Neteydji Sidiki; Elisabeth Ngo Bum

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2021.14.3.0078

Authors

Bigued Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Germain Sotoing Taiwe Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Jacqueline Stephanie Kameni Njapdounke Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Joseph Ngaibi Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Yvette Nguezeye Centre for Research on Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, P.O. Box 13033, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Neteydji Sidiki Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Elisabeth Ngo Bum Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 814, Maroua, Cameroon.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2021.14.3.0078

Keywords:

Dysphania ambrosioides, Anxiolytic, GABAergic, Brain, Folk medicine

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (Chenopodiaceae) is a medicinal plant known for its anxiolytic, antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities in Cameroonian folk medicine.

Aim of the study: The aim of this work is to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of Dysphania ambrosioides aqueous extracts and investigate its mechanism of action.

Materials and methods: Elevated plus maze test and open field test were used for detecting it anxiolytic properties. The possible mechanism of action of the aqueous extracts were investigated after pretreatment of animals with different antagonists of GABA_A complex receptors (5 mg/kg N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide, 4 mg/kg flumazenil or 2 mg/kg bicuculline) 30 minutes prior to the oral administration of 370 mg/kg Dysphania ambrosioides aqueous extract.

Results: Dysphania ambrosioides increased the percentage of entries into and percentage of time in open arms, and reduced rearing, head dipping, and percentage of time in closed arms, in the elevated plus maze. It reduced rearing and defecation, and increased crossing, in the open field. In addition, anxiolytic-like properties of Dysphania ambrosioides were blocked by different antagonists of GABA_A complex receptors (N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide, flumazenil or bicuculline) as examined in elevated plus maze test. Finally, the activity of GABA-T activity was inhibited and the brain GABA concentration was increased by the extracts, respectively.

Conclusion: These results suggest that Dysphania ambrosioides possess anxiolytic-like properties in mice that might involve an action on benzodiazepine and/or GABA sites in the GABA_A receptor complex or by modulating brain GABA concentration in the central nervous system.

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