Effects of Methanolic Extract of Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) on the Neuromuscular functions of Albino rats. (Rattus norvegicus)

This research was conducted to determine the effects of methanolic extract of bitter on the neuromuscular system of albino rats. Twenty–five (25) albino rats were grouped into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) of five (5) rats per group. Group A served as control while groups B, C, D and E were treated with  different concentrations of methanolic extract of bitter leaf (100mg/kg/day, 200mg/kg/day, 400mg/kg/day and 800mg/kg/day) at two different times (morning and evening with half the daily dose per administration) respectively for a period of one-month. Thereafter the rats were subjected to five different tests: handgrip test, beam walking test, inverted screen maze test, swimming test and force swimming test.  Statistical Analysis showed that the effects of methanolic extract of bitter leaf, exhibited significant (p˂0.05) effect on the nerves of the muscle tone when compared with the control. In   hand grip test, group C, showed mean values which were significantly (p˂0.05) higher than the control. In beam walking test the treatment groups (B, C, D, and E ) were slower than the control in a dose dependent manner.  The treatment groups were not significantly different from the control though there observable trends expressing treatment-induced effects.  Only group C was seen to be significantly different (p˂0.05) in swimming test. In forced swimming test, groups B, C, D were dose dependently smarter than the control to locate the safe platform faster. However, group E was not so influenced.  The result expressly showed that Vernonia amygdalina has significant effect on neuromuscular, memory and other cognitive functions and in proper dosage is applied it can enhance effective neuronal functions.

Keywords: Vernonia amydalina, neuromuscular effects, Rattus norvegicus