EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOL STEM EXTRACT OF PARQUETINA NIGRESCENS AFZEL IN MICE

📄 Project Abstract

Parquetina nigrescens is a plant with numerous ethnomedicinal uses in African traditional medicine practice. In the South Western part of Nigeria, the stems and roots are roasted, powdered then mixed with pap taken as memory enhancer and for its antiaging effect. This study therefore, aimed to investigate the nootropic activity of the methanol stem extract of P. nigrescens. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the methanol extract and the median lethal dose (LD50) determined using the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Europe (OECD) 425 limit test. The effect of the extract on cognition was evaluated at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg using the elevated plus maze, Barnes maze and novel object recognition test models while the antiamnesic potential was investigated against scopolamine and diazepam induced amnesia. The effect of the extract on exploratory behaviour was also studied using the open field test and hole-board test. The behavioural cognitive enhan...