The antipsychotic potential of Salix Mucronata on ketamine-induced rats.

In a study using adult male Sprague Dawley rats, repeated ketamine administration (30 mg/kg for 5 days) induced social withdrawal and reduced social novelty and motivation, mimicking schizophrenia-like symptoms. Subsequent treatment with either the antipsychotic risperidone (6 mg/kg) or an extract of the herbal plant Salix mucronata (5 mg/kg) for 7 days successfully reversed the social deficits. Both treatments also increased brain dopamine and acetylcholine levels. However, the rats showed reduced sucrose preference (indicating anhedonia) and reduced weight gain after ketamine and mild stress, and reduced brain volume was noted in experimental groups. No differences in brain mass were found between controls and treated groups. The findings suggest that S. mucronata has antipsychotic potential similar to risperidone.

Study at a glance

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.