Faculty Collaboration Database

Towards a better understanding of the psychopharmacology of nutmeg: Activities in the mouse tetrad assay. J Ethnopharmacol 2009 Nov 12;126(2):280-6

Date

08/26/2009

Pubmed ID

19703539

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2783227

DOI

10.1016/j.jep.2009.08.026

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-70350346860 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   28 Citations

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nutmeg, the seeds of Myritica fragrans (family Myristicaceae), is a well known kitchen spice with a long-standing reputation as a psychoactive herb. Nutmeg at high doses is considered a cheap substitute to several drugs of abuse. Earlier reports have attributed amphetamine-like activities to nutmeg.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To characterize the neuropharmacological effects of different nutmeg extracts, administered orally and intraperitoneally, in comparison to Delta(9)-terahydrocannabinol, amphetamine, and morphine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanolic (ME), dichloromethane (DE), and hexane (HE) extracts were obtained from a chromatographically fingerprinted batch of nutmeg. Biological evaluation was conducted in sets of 6-8 mice in the tetrad assay at doses ranging from 100 to 500 and 500 to 1000 mg/kg for i.p. and oral administration, respectively.

RESULTS: While oral administration of all the nutmeg extracts at 500 mg/kg caused a significant increase in locomotor activity, the i.p. administration of DE showed significant reduction in rectal temperature along with a significant increase in tail flick latency at 300 mg/kg. A significant decrease in core body temperature was observed with HE at 100 mg/kg, while higher doses caused significant increases in hot plate latency.

CONCLUSION: Different behavioral effects were observed that varied by the type of extract as well as by the route of administration.

Author List

El-Alfy AT, Wilson L, ElSohly MA, Abourashed EA

Authors

Ehab A. Abourashed PhD Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Abir El-Alfy PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Amphetamine
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Body Temperature
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Dronabinol
Mice
Mice, Inbred Strains
Morphine
Motor Activity
Pain Threshold
Plant Extracts
Psychopharmacology
Rectum
Seeds
Temperature