Preliminary phytochemical screening, acute toxicity and effect of Albuca amoena extracts on the central nervous system

Introduction: Albuca amoena is a Moroccan-Algerian endemic medicinal plant with various implications. The aim of this study is to identify phytochemical compounds of the plant, check its acute toxicity, and test its anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Methods: The estimation of chemical compounds was carried out according to coloring and precipitation reactions. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines ۴۲۳ and ۴۰۲ made it possible to verify the acute toxicity of the plant orally and dermally. The sedative activity was performed according to ۴ tests: rotarod, hole-board, traction, and chimney tests. The anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects were evaluated by forced swimming, light/dark, and writhing tests, respectively. Results: The phytochemical analysis showed that A. amoena contained a mixture of phytochemical compounds like terpenes, alkaloids, and polyphenols. According to the acute toxicity tests, the lethal dose of ۵۰% (LD۵۰) of A. amoena hydroalcoholic extract was between ۳۰۰ and ۲۰۰۰ mg/kg orally and higher than ۲۰۰۰ mg/kg dermally. Moreover, the result of the behaviour tests of sedative and analgesic activities revealed that A. amoena hydroalcoholic extract exerted positive effects on the CNS. Conclusion: These results show the anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects of the bioactive substances present in A. amoena on the CNS and provide access to further investigations to highlight the main compounds of this plant and their mechanisms of actions.