Antipsychotic effect of aqueous stem bark extract of Amblygonocarpus andongensis in Wistar albino rats

The study of antipsychotic effect of the aqueous stem bark extract of Amblygonocarpus andongensis was carried out on amphetamine induced psychosis in 42 Wister albino rats weighing between 105 and 305.2 g using feeding and locomotor activities as indices of psychosis. All the experimental rats were given psychotic symptoms through amphetamine use, they were treated with nothing (control), low, moderate and high doses of bark and chlorpromazine (active comparator) and then the psychotic symptoms were monitored to see which group exhibited the best response. The highest dose extract (1350 mg/kg) was comparable to chlorpromazine in lowering psychotic behavior characterized by annorexia and agitation. Hence both A. andongensis and chlorpromazine can be used to treat psychosis induced by amphetamine. The antipsychotic effect of andongensis may be in dose graded fashion.