Motor and behavioral effects of moringa oleifera leaf extract

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant widely used in many parts of the world for hypertension, pain and epilepsy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of M oleifera aqueous leaf extract on motor and behavioral activities of healthy mice. Male mice were randomly divided into a control group (given 0.9% NaCl orally) and three groups treated with the extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. Motor and behavioral activity were evaluated by quantifying motor activity, exploration (hole-board), neuro-muscular coordination (rota rod treadmill), pain (hot plate, cold-water tail flick, and acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction), and depression (forced swimming test, FST). Administration of M. oleifera extract had a significant and dose dependent antinociceptive action in both thermal and chemical tests (p < 0.05). The extract (400 mg/kg) caused a reduction in exploration activity and neuromuscular coordination, and decreased the mobility time in the FST, suggesting an antidepressant-like action. Motor activity was not significantly affected by any of the doses used. The results suggest that the plant aqueous extract may have a dose-dependent central nervous system (CNS) depressant action.