Amelioration of antipsychotic activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Piper longum and its effects on TNF-α expression in rat hippocampus

The present research is to evaluate the Antipsychotic activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Piper longum and its effect on TNF-α expression on rat hippocampus.

The fruit was collected, dried, and pulverized. Extraction was carried out with 98% ethanol by the Soxhlet apparatus. Preliminary phytochemical studies of the extract were investigated in this study. Two doses of the extract (200 and 400mg/kg) were used for this study. Antipsychotic activity was evaluated against psychosis-induced rats using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus, Actophotometer, and Open field model. Further, Immunohistochemistry studies of TNF-α expression and Histopathological studies of the brain and liver were also performed.

The extract contains phytochemicals, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and starch. The extract produced a significant increase in the latency to climb the pole and a decrease in the locomotor activity by Actophotometer and Open field test (crossing, rearing, sniffing & grooming, etc.). Piper longum extract significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α in the hippocampus. Histopathology of the brain stated recovery of the cells in Piper longum (400mg/kg) treated while the liver revealed that the extract is free fromhepatotoxicity.

Overall, our findings suggest that ethanolic extract of Piper longum possesses potent antipsychotic activity which might be due to its modulatory action on dopamine neurotransmission.