Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Neurology

Background: Sida acuta and Rauvolfia vomitoria are medicinal plants whose phytochemical analysis have revealed the presence of alkaloids and have also been reported to be useful for the treatment of closely related diseases. It is also efficient for the management of cold, fever and chronic catarrh. There is therefore a need to sufficiently document the interactive influence of the alkaloids and other bioactive constituents of Sida acuta and Rauvolfia vomitoria.

Objectives: To provide information on the interactive influence of Sida acuta and Rauvolfia vomitoria on the cerebellum of albino rats using neurohistological parameter.

Methods: Thirty-six adult albino rats weighing between 180g and 200g were used for this research. They were randomly divided into six groups of six animals in each group as follows. Group I: The animals in control group were given feed and water ad libitum. Group 2: The animals were administered orally with 200mg/kg body weight of Sida acuta for 14 days. Group 3: The animals were administered orally with 212.5 mg/kg body weight of Rauvolfia vomitoria for 14 days. Group 4: The animals were administered orally with 200 mg/kg body weight of Sida acuta for 14 days and 212.5 mg/kg body weight of Rauvolfia vomitoria for 14 days. Group 5: The animals were administered orally with 400mg/kg body weight of Sida acuta for 14 days and 425 mg/kg body weight of Rauvolfia vomitoria for 14 days. Group 6: The animals were administered orally with 600 mg/kg body weight of Sida acuta for 14 days and 825mg/kg body weight of Rauvolfia vomitoria for 14 days. After 28 days, the animals were sacrificed by chloroform inhalation and their skull opened and brain removed, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining technique.

Results: Sida acuta at the tested dose of 200 mg/kg body weight induced degeneration of Purkinje cells when compared to the control, Rauvolfia vomitoria at the tested dose of 212.5 kg/mg body weight induced cellular swellings in the Purkinje cell layer, administration of Rauvolfia vomitoria after Sida acuta at increasing doses significantly reversed these changes when compared with the group that received 200 mg/kg body weight of Sida acuta for 14 days.

Conclusion: This result suggests that ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta may cause some neurological damages while Rauvolfia vomitoria exert some levels of amelioration possibly through its neuroprotective properties.