Effect of Aqueous Extract of Cannabis Sativa Leaf on the Motor Coordination Using the Hanging Wire and Open Field Neurobehavioural Tests in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is a commonly abused drug especially among younger people in society. The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, immediately inferior to the occipital and temporal lobes within the posterior cranial fossa. The study was designed to show the effect of aqueous leave extract of cannabis sativa on the performance of male Wistar rats in the hanging wire and open field neurobehavioural tests. A total of 40 Wistar rats were used and grouped into five groups. Group I received distilled water for 28 days. Group II, III, IV and V served as the low, high, low dose recovery and high dose recovery group respectively. Group II were administered with 10mg/kg body weight of cannabis sativa leave aqueous extract for 28 days. Group III were administered with 20mg/kg body weight of cannabis sativa leave aqueous extract for 28 days. Group IV was administered with 10mg/kg body weight of cannabis sativa leave aqueous extract for 28days and were allowed for further 28 days without any administration while group V received 20mg/kg body weight of cannabis sativa for 28 days and were allowed for further 28days without administration. Group IV and V represent the recovery group. Group I, II and III were sacrificed a day after their last intubation. The result of the study showed that the administration of cannabis Sativa did not significantly change the outcome of the open field test at the final stage compared to the initial but group E showed significant decrease in hanging time following exposure to cannabis sativa. We can therefore conclude that administration of cannabis sativa at 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg for 28 days did not adversely affect rats performance in the neurobehavioural tests carried out.