Abstract

EFFECTS OF NELSONIA CANESCENS (ACANTHACEAE) ON THE STRESS INDUCED BEHAVIORAL AND REPRODUCTIVE CHANGES IN FEMALE ALBINO RATS

Fotsing David*, Njapdounke Kameni Jacqueline Kenneth Yongabi Anchang Elisabeth Ngo Bum

ABSTRACT

Nelsonia canescens is a plant used in African and Asian traditional medicine. In Africa, it is used to reduce fever and as an analgesic in a wide range of conditions. N. canescens is commonly used in many regions of Cameroon as a cure for various ailments. The macerated leaves are empirically used to improve female fertility. The present study was to test the effect of the aqueous extract of N. canescens on behavioral and neurochemical characteristics using markers in the chronic restraint stress model. Restraint stress (3h/day/28 days) was used to induce female reproductive and behavioral dysfunction in rats. The plant was given to rats at the doses of 100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for 28 days along with induction of stress. The behavior, the estrous cycle, the organ weight and the biochemical parameters were assessed. The results of the study showed an increase in the entries and open arm time exploration in the Elevated Plus Maze, a significant decrease in the corticosterone and prolactin levels in the N. canescens aqueous extract treated rats compared to stressed rats whereas the levels of serotonin, triglyceride, adrenaline, cholesterol, FSH, LH and glucose significantly increased. The stress induced changes in estrous cycle phases duration was normalized by the treatment with the plant‟s extract. The aqueous extract of N. canescens showed protective effect on the stress induced reproductive and behavioral changes. The anti-stress activity may be due to the phytochemical constituents like alkaloids and flavonoids in the plant.

Keywords: Nelsonia canescens, behavior, estrous cycle, restraint stress, neurochemical, anti-stress activity.