Pattern of neurobehaviour in albino rats in the open field following oral artesunate administration.

The neurobehavioural patterns in the open field following oral artesunate administration was studied using 40 albino rats randomly assigned to three Groups, namely A, B and C. Prior to the test, all the animals were acclimatized for 5 minutes in the open field maze. Group A (8 males and 8 females) received therapeutic doses of artesunate (1.42 mg/kg per oral (p.o.)--using oro-gastric tubes while Group B (8 males and 8 females) received pharmacological doses of 4.26 mg/kg (p.o.). Group C served as the control and were administered only distilled water (p.o.). Gross behavioural changes were noted following the therapeutic and pharmacological administration of artesunate for five days. Rats in Groups A and B showed marked decrease in loco motor activity (line crossing) and exploratory (rearing and walling) activities in comparison with the control (P<0.05). The centre square activity was significantly decreased in Groups A and B in comparison with the control (P<0.01). The number of faecal boli and urine puddles did not change significantly in Groups A and B when compared with the control (P>0.05). However, the frequency of grooming was significantly lower in Groups A and B rats than in the control (P<0.01). The frequency and duration of freezing were significantly higher in Groups A and B rats than in the control rats (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the values for the male and female rats. There was also no dose dependent effect of artesunate on the activities studied. Oral administration of artesunate significantly decreases loco motor and exploratory behaviours in the albino rat.