Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of Mussaenda roxburghii with special reference to the nervous system.
 Methods: For the study, 15 mice were obtained from Pasteur Institute, Shillong. The mice were then divided into three groups containing five mice in each group. The groups were, namely Group I, Group II, and Group III; Group I mice received distilled water and acted as a control group, Group II mice received plant extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight (BWT.), and Group III mice received plant extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg BWT. The doses were administered orally through oral gavage tube for 28 days and the BWT of the mice was measured at 7th, 14th, 21th, and 28th days. The behavior of mice was evaluated for anxiety, locomotion, immobility, learning, and memory with the elevated plus maze test (EPMT), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and Morris water maze test (MWMT), respectively.
 Results: The result of the experiment showed a decrease in the BWT of mice exposed to plant extracts significantly as compared to the control. In the OFT, there is a significant decrease in total distance travel in OFT and also total distance travel in the central zone in mice treated with the plant extracts as compared to the control mice. In the EPMT, the plant extract treated mice showed a decreased in the time spent in open arms. The FST results in increased immobility in mice exposed to plant extracts as compared to control. In the present study, MWMT results in an increased escape latency and path length and in decreased annulus crossovers in plant extract treated group as compared to control.
 Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the plant extract alters the behavior of the treated mice and possesses neurotoxic activity.
Highlights
Mussaenda species member of the Rubiaceae family is used in West Africa, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Southern China
A significant decrease in body weight (BWT) was observed in the 2nd week after the treatment of the plant extract in Group III (p
The results of the present study showed a decrease in the locomotor activity in the mice exposed to Mussaenda roxburghii (MR) which gives an indication of toxicity in the CNS and the decrease in locomotor activity may be closely related to sedation resulting from the depression of the CNS
Summary
Mussaenda species member of the Rubiaceae family is used in West Africa, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. Is one of the species found in Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar and in the Northeast part of India This plant has been reported to use to treat boils in tongue, bacterial and fungal infection as traditional folk medicine and used among tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh, India, as food [2]. Methanol leaves extract at a dose of 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg showed anti-neoplastic properties in cancer cell lines, highest anticancer activity showed at 60 mg/kg i.p, and methanol leaves extract showed antioxidant activity and alpha-glucosidase activity [3] Leaf extracts of this plant have antiinflammatory, thrombolytic anticancerous, and antiarthritic activity effect, methanolic extract showed 53.79% and 86.93% of membrane stabilizing activity at 31.25 μg/ml and 1000 μg/ml concentration, respectively [4,5]. Dietary sterol glucosides were neurotoxic to motor neurons [9]
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