Locomotor Behaviour and Anxiety in the Open Field and Light/Dark Box in CD1 Mice Treated with Aspirin, Cataflam and Ethanolic Extract of Cannabis sativa

Abstract

Aims: To study the effects of cataflam, aspirin and the ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa on nociception in CD1 albino mice of both sexes. Methods: Twenty (20) albino mice were divided into four (4) groups of five (5) each. The control group (group 1) received normal saline orally. Meanwhile groups 2-4 received p.o. cataflam (1.5 mg/kg), aspirin (13.5mg/kg) and Cannabis sativa (10 mg/kg) respectively. All four (4) groups were given access to normal mice chow and water ad libitum. The Open field apparatus and the light/dark box were used to measure locomotor/exploratory behaviour and anxiety. Results: There was a significant (p=0.05) reduction in the frequencies of rearing, walling and line crossing in the Open field test and a reduction in frequency of transition, rearing and line crossing in the light/dark box. There was no significant difference in the chamber durations in the light/dark box test. Conclusion: Cataflam, Aspirin and the ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa all have anxiogenic Original Research Article Nku et al.; BJMMR, 6(6): 563-572, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.2015.234 564 effect and reduced locomotor behaviour. The ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa seems to have the greatest anxiogenic effect, followed closely by Cataflam and Aspirin.