Anti-psychotic-like effects of Blighia unijugata: pharmacological validation of traditional uses in mental health management

Background: Blighia unijugata, is a tropical African plant used by traditional healers in Ghana for the management of mental disorders. Objective: This study sought to explore the neuropharmacological effects of an ethanolic extract from the leaves of this plant to provide corroborating evidence for its use in mental health disorders. Methods: Mice were subjected to Irwin test to ascertain the general effects of oral Blighia unijugata extract (BUE;100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o) on the physiology of mice and to determine the onset of neuro-activity. The effects of BUE (100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg, p.o) in novelty-and apomorphine-induced locomotor effects were assessed using the open-field paradigm. Further, apomorphine-induced cage climbing assay was used to assess for any anti-psychotic-like potential of BUE. The potential of BUE to cause extrapyramidal motor effects was also tested. Results: BUE-treated mice demonstrated excitation at 15 and 30 minutes post-treatment with lower doses at 100 and 300 mg/kg and also showed sedation at 1000 mg/kg at 60,120 and 180 minutes post-BUE administration. There was no significant difference between BUE and the vehicle-treated group regarding the frequency and entry into the centre, corners, or peripheral regions of the open field. BUE, however, significantly decreased the frequency of cage climbing in the apomorphine-induced cage climbing test. BUE also significantly increased haloperidol-induced cataleptic activity 60 minutes post-administration. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Blighia unijugata possesses antipsychotic-like activity. This finding lends corroborating pharmacological evidence for the traditional use of BUE in the management of mental health disorders.