摘要：

Graphical abstract Twenty three compounds detected include turmerone and α-phellandrene as most abundant constituents.Curlone is reported in essential oil of fresh rhizome from Nigeria for the first time.LD50values of thisC. longaspecies were 693mg/kg, i.p. and 2154mg/kg, p.o.The essential oil of this plant demonstrated CNS depressant activity in mice. Twenty three compounds detected include turmerone and α-phellandrene as most abundant constituents. Curlone is reported in essential oil of fresh rhizome from Nigeria for the first time. LD50values of thisC. longaspecies were 693mg/kg, i.p. and 2154mg/kg, p.o. The essential oil of this plant demonstrated CNS depressant activity in mice. Curcuma longa(turmeric) is commonly used as spice and also used to treat fever, cough and febrile convulsions in Nigeria. This study determined the chemical composition of the essential oil ofC. longaand evaluated its neuropharmacological activity in mice. Essential oil ofC. longa(EOCL) fresh rhizome was obtained by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition determined by GC–MS. Acute toxicity (LD50) profile of the essential oil was determined orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.); and the EOCL (50–200mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated for its behavioural, anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activities using appropriate models in Albino mice (Vom Strain, Jos, Nigeria). Analysis of the oil showed the presence of 23 compounds with turmerone (35.9%) being the major component. The LD50values obtained for the mice were 2154mg/kg, p.o., and 693mg/kg, i.p. The EOCL (50–200mg/kg, i.p.) caused significant (p<0.01) inhibition of rearing {F(4,20)=9} and locomotor {F(3,16)=42} activity; decreased head dips in hole board {F(4,20)=4}; increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated pus maze {F(4,20)=9}; prolonged total sleeping time {F(4,20)=21} induced by ketamine injection, and protected mice against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions. The major component of the essential oil of thisC. longaspecies was turmerone; the oil was slightly toxic orally but moderately toxic intraperitoneally in mice; exhibited significant anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activities in mice.

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