International Journal of Pharmacology1811-77751812-5700Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijp.2007.295.298Cnestis ferruginea]]>IsholaI. O.AshorobiR. B.3200733This study presents the results of the phytochemical screening, acute toxicity testing and anti-stress potential of aqueous root extract of Cnestis ferruginea in mice and rats. The forced swimming endurance test, anoxic tolerance tests and immobilization stress-induced gastric ulcer were utilized as models for the evaluation of the anti-stress property of C. ferruginea. The results from phytochemical tests showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and glycosides as the major constituents of the root extract of C. ferruginea. The acute toxicity test showed a wide margin of safety with a median lethal dose (LD50 of 3.6570 g kg-1) in mice. In the forced swimming test, C. ferruginea at a dose range of (300-500 mg kg-1, p.o) significantly decreased the duration of immobility in a dose-related manner. These results showed that the extract is a potential anti-stress agent. In the anoxic tolerance test, the extract prolonged the mean time (min) before convulsion in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Also in the immobilization stress-induced gastric ulcer, the extract prevented gastric ulcer formation in rats immobilized and subjected to stress (cold) at 4°C for 2 h after pretreatment with the aqueous root extract. This further confirmed the anti-stress potential of the extract. In conclusion, the root extract of C. ferruginea is a potential anti-stress agent.]]>Anisman, H. and R.M. Zacharko,1991pp: 57-82pp: 57-82Athey, G.R. and S.G. Iams,198128889894Balandrin, M.F., A.D. Kinghorn and W.R. Farnsworth,19931993pp: 2-12pp: 2-12Bhattacharya, K. and S. Ghosal,2000117Bishayee, A. and M. Chatterjee,1995Mikania cordata root extract in albino mice.]]>33215221Crawford, J.M. and L. Chen,19996th Edn.,Ellis, J.M. and P. Reddy,200236375379Hoffman, B.B.,20012001pp: 235-238pp: 235-238Josey, E.S. and R.L. Tackett,199937111119Levy, L.,19761333345Mascolo, N., A. Puito and F. Capacso,198840293295Nehling, A., J.L. David and G. Debry,199217139170Oke, J.M. and M.O. Hamburger,200157779Perenz, R.M., S. Perenz, A.M. Zavala and N. Salazar,1995Hippocratea excelsa.]]>478590Piazza, P.V. and M. Lemoal,1998196774Rastrelli, L., A. Saravia, C.R. Hernandez and F. Desimone,199836315319Sapolsky, R.M., L.M. Romero and A.U. Mnck, 2000215589Subarnas, A., T. Tadano, N. Nakahata, Y. Arai and H. Kinemuchi et al.,1993Lobelia inflata leaves in the forced swimming test.]]>52289296Trease, G.E. and M.C. Evan, 200020th Edn.,pp: 179-280pp: 179-280