ABSTRACT
Background: Bombax buonopozense used traditionally in the treatment of malaria, skin diseases, dysentery and relief dizziness. Most drugs of use in today’s world is obtained from plants, directly or indirectly. Traditional medicine is still accredited the most preferred primary health care system.
Objective: This study investigated the effect of Bombax buonopozense methanol stem- bark extract on stress, anxiety and depression in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Methods: Bombax buonopozense stem-bark were collected, dried and grounded. Extraction was done by maceration in methanol to yield the whole extract. Calculations were done to get the percentage yield. Oral acute toxicity was evaluated in mice using Lorke’s method. Diabetic rats were treated with bark extract and were subjected to behavioral test models such as forced swim test, elevated plus maze and sucrose splash test.
Results: Oral acute toxicity studies recorded no mortality at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment there was a dose-dependent reduction in duration of time spent in close arm from 200mg/kg to 800mg/kg extract. This was indicative of an anxiolytic property of the extract. Also there was a significant reduction in duration of immobility amongst treated group of animals (400mg/kg and 800mg/kg extract).
Conclusion: the methanolic leaf extract is safe as the LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract may possess antidepressant and anxiolytic property and further study is required to isolate and characterize the active component.
