Neuropsychopharmacologic properties of a Schumanniophyton problematicum root extract.

Schumanniophyton problematicum is a plant popular among Nigerian native healers for the treatment of psychotic patients (madness). An extract obtained by ethanol extraction of the roots caused reductions in respiratory rate, body and limb tone, startle response and spontaneous locomotor activity after i.p. injection in mice, and was capable of inhibiting amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and stereotypic behaviour. It also induced passivity, piloerection, hypothermia and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time. The i.p. LD50 of the extract in mice was 2.37 g/kg. The effects of the extract appear to be due to depression of central and autonomic system.