• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.4
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the neurobehavioural effects of the smoking of Carica papaya leaves based on ethnopharmacological information. Twenty -four rats used for the study were grouped into four groups namely; Groups 1 (Control, unexposed to any smoke) and Groups 2 - 4 (exposed to smoke from varying amount of pawpaw leaf powder). Groups 2, 3, and 4 were exposed to smoke from 6.25 g (low dose), 12.50 g (medium dose), and 18.75 g (high dose) of dry pawpaw leaves respectively in a smoking chamber twice daily for 21 one days with each exposure lasting 3 min. The spontaneous motor activities and locomotory behaviour of the animals were assessed using an open field maze and hole board maze test. The results showed that the smoking of Carica papaya leaves led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in locomotory activities from $33.36{\pm}3.36$ (control) to $66.50{\pm}6.16$ (high dose), number of head dips (from $8.50{\pm}0.36$, to $12.83{\pm}0.87$) and rearing behaviour (from $14.83{\pm}0.74$, to $27.0{\pm}1.46$). However, the freezing durations as animals were introduced into the maze and grooming behaviour were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the treated groups. In conclusion, the increased ambulations and exploratory behaviours imply that the anxiety level is low in the treated groups compared to the control group which thus confirms that dry Carica papaya leaf may possibly contain psychoactive substance(s) that become active when smoked.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.278-284
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• 2018

Asimina triloba contains many kinds of annonaceous acetogenins known to have toxicity and/or activity. In this study, analysis of acetogenins was carried out on the extract and its solvent fractions of A. triloba leaves using a liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy(LC-MS). In the extract, the ethanolic extract was significantly higher acetogenin contents than hot water extract. In the analysis of solvent fraction from the ethanolic extract, n-hexane, ethylacetate, and aqueous fraction were contained 85.17~90.92%, 8.96~14.52% and 0.12~0.35% of total acetogenin in the extract. Based on these results, the analytical method is useful for comparing annonaceous acetogenins contents in plant samples. Moreover, when research or product development aiming at the physiological activity of acetogenin such as anticancer activity using A. triloba leaves is performed, a fractionation using a nonpolar organic solvents and alcohol extract may be useful methods. This method can also be used for the purpose of eliminating toxicity as well.