PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF Datura metel SEED EXTRACT ON AMYLOBARBITONE ANAESTHESIA IN RABBITS

Abstract

We have studied the effects of Datura mete! seed extract on amylobarbitone anaesthesia in the rabbit. This was done to find out whether the seed extract influences amylobarbitone anaesthesia. Sodium amylobarbitone (l2mg/100g body weight, I.P) caused sleep in normal rabbits within 7.215 ± 3.9 mm. The sleep lasted for 366±133.2 minuts. Treatment of rabbits with Datura metel seed extract (3mg.50 0 g. body weight, I.P) followed by aniylobarbit9ne (I2mg/100g body weight, i.p) resulted in increased onset and decreased duration of sleep of 11.5±2.7 and 314 ± 13.2 minutes respectively. The packed cell volume and lymphocyte counts were significantly (p>O.05) decreased in rabbits treated with seed extract and there were further reductions in the rabbits treated with both the extract and amylobarbitone. The neutrophils and monocytes were significantly (P<O.05) elevated in the rabbits treated with both the extract and amylobarbitone. These results suggest that Datura mete! seed extract may be responsible for the significant increase in the onset of sleep and slight haematological changes in amylobarbitone anaesthesia in the rabbits.