Elevated Vanilmandelic Acid Concentration in Brain Tissue Following the Administration of Ethanolic Extract of Alstonia boonei (De Wild) in Rats

Vanilmandelic acid (VMA) is a common excretory metabolite of the catecholamines. The catecholamines are implicated in schizophrenic disorders, and in the regulation of sexual functions via the Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis (HTPA). Alstonia boonei stem bark extract is used extensively in folk medicine to treat malaria, mental disorders and some reproductive problems. The possible effect of the plant extract on the concentration of VMA was studied in rats using 50 and 200mg/kg for 2 and 4 weeks using Biosystem VMA test kit. The extract significantly (p< 0.05) elevated the brain concentration of VMA time and dose dependently. The histological study of the rat brain tissue (pituitary gland) revealed distortions of the tissue architecture in the treated groups. It is reasoned that catecholamines may play a role in the antipsychotic potential of the plant extract. Again the plant extract may have adverse effect on the CNS in the course of its application in folk medicine.