Effect Of Aqueous Extract Of Rauwolfia Vomitoria Root Bark On The Cytoarchitecture Of The Cerebellum And Neurobehaviour Of Adult Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Rauwolfia vomitoria is a natural medicinal herb which has been used over the years for the treatment of hypertension and mental disorders. The effect of aqueous extract of R.vomitoria root bark on the cyto-architecture of the cerebellum and neurobehaviour of adult male Wistar rats was studied. Fifteen adult male Wistar rats weighing between 150g and 170g were used for this study. They were divided into three groups, A, B and C of five rats each. Groups A and B were the experimental groups, while group C was the control. Oral doses of 600mg/kg and 500mg/kg body weight of the extract was administered to the rats in groups A and B respectively for seven days, while the control received distilled water. On the eight day, neurobehaviour test using the 'open field' was carried out and the animals were subsequently sacrificed. There were reductions in body weight in the experimental groups compared to the control. The neurobehaviour test showed reduced locomotion and exploratory activities in the experimental groups compared to the control and, histological result showed distortions of the cerebellar cells and layers of the experimental groups compared to the control. The extract affects the cerebellar cytoarchitecture and neurobehaviour. Thus the use of the drug should be limited to management of a diseased condition.