Pharmacological Effects of Gardenia erubescens in Mice, Rats and Cats

Abstract

Crude extracts, mannitol and saponins obtained from Gardenia erubescens were tested for pharmacological effect in mice, rats and cats. When the saponins were injected intraperitoneally they did not produce anesthesia in mice but potentiated the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep. They produced profound dose-dependent sedation but showed no anticonvulsant effects in mice. The saponins also produced a dose-dependent analgesia in adult rats and reduced the blood pressure of anesthetised cats. The water extract of the stem bark and mannitol isolated from the plant produced mild diuresis in rats when given orally. The LD₅₀ of the methanolic extract and saponins were 550mg/kg and 119mg/ kg respectively.