NEEM (AZADIRACHTA-INDICA) TREATMENT DECREASES SPONTANEOUS MOTOR-ACTIVITY IN RATS - IMPLICATIONS FOR ITS CENTRAL SEDATIVE ACTION

The administration of a crude steroidal extract of neem (Azadirachta i ndica A. Juss) leaf significantly decreased the total spontaneous moto r activity (SMA) scores in rags receiving either 100 mg/kg body weight (i.p.) twice per week for 6 weeks (p<0.01) or a single dose (p<0.05), indicating that neem may have a sedative effect on rats. Single dose (acute) treatment also significantly decreased (p<0.01) the amplitude of the peak twicht force of the gastrocnemius muscle in vivo, but the neem extract exerted no significant effect on amplitude or conduction velocity of the compound action potential of the toad sciatic nerve pr eparation in vitro. It is therefore concluded that the depression of t he SMA may be due to an effect of neem on the central nervous system a nd/or muscle strength, but not on peripheral nerve conduction. (C) 199 7 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.