The antipsychotic potential of Salix Mucronata on ketamine-induced rats.
Ntombifuthi P Ngubane, Musa V Mabandla, Brenda Z De Gama
IBRO Neuroscience Reports December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.06.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 45 |
| Population | Adult male Sprague Dawley rats |
| Interventions | Ketamine Risperidone |
| Dose | 30 mg/kg ketamine, 6 mg/kg risperidone, 5 mg/kg Salix mucronata extract |
| Duration | 5-day ketamine induction, 7-day treatment period |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Herbal medicine Mental disorders Risperidone Salix mucronata Mental health treatments Schizophrenia research Traditional medicine Willow bark therapy |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Both risperidone and Salix mucronata extract reversed ketamine-induced social withdrawal and reduced social novelty in rats, and increased dopamine and acetylcholine levels, indicating similar antipsychotic potential. |
Abstract
Salix mucronata is one of the herbal plants offered by the traditional health practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa for the treatment of schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated administration of ketamine on social interaction, novelty and motivation in adult, male Sprague Dawley rats. It also aimed to investigate the potential of risperidone and the herbal extract of S. mucronata to reverse impairments that are induced by ketamine. Experimental rats (n=45) received a dose of ketamine at 30 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection for 5 consecutive days. They were then allocated into their respective treatment groups and given risperidone (APD) and the herbal extract of S. mucronata (TM) at doses of 6 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. Social behaviour was tested using the 3-chambered sociability test, and anhedonia was tested using the sucrose preference test. Ketamine induction elicited social withdrawal and reduced social novelty which were later successfully reversed by risperidone and S. mucronata. The rats showed reduced preference to sucrose post-induction and post-treatment. Ketamine and mild stress caused by scruff restraint elicited reduced weight gain for the animals. No differences were noted on brain mass between controls and experimental groups and also between risperidone and S. mucronata groups. However, reduced brain volume was noted in experimental groups. Dopamine and acetylcholine concentration levels were high in groups which received risperidone and S. mucronata. These findings highlight that the antipsychotic potential of S. mucronata is similar to risperidone.