**7.5** *Spinacia oleracea* **Linn**

*Spinacia oleracea* commonly known as spinach is endowed with a number of medicinal properties [92]. Ethnopharmacological studies proposed that *Spinacia oleracea* seeds have promising antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-epileptic, antialzheimer and anti-inflammatory effects [93–95]. The study evaluated the protective effects of *Spinacia oleracea* seed extract in an experimental model of ketamineinduced schizophrenia in mice. Ketamine was used to induce stereotyped psychotic symptoms in mice. Behavioral studies (locomotor activity, stereotypy, immobility duration and memory retention) were carried out followed by biochemical, neurochemical and cellular alterations in the brain. Chronic treatment with *Spinacia oleracea* seed extract significantly attenuated stereotyped behavioral symptoms in mice. Biochemical estimations revealed that the extract reduced lipid peroxidation and restored total brain proteins. Likewise, *Spinacia oleracea* remarkably reduced dopamine levels, acetylcholinesterase activity & inflammatory surge serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and increased the levels of GABA and reduced glutathione in mice. The results of the study indicated that the extract could ameliorate ketamine-induced psychotic symptoms in mice, signifying a protective effect in the treatment of schizophrenia. Moreover, its protective effect in schizophrenia may be associated with its regulating effect on dopamine, GABA, acetylcholinesterase enzymes, glutathione and malondialdehyde levels [67].

#### **7.6** *Terminalia macroptera* **Linn**

*Terminalia macroptera* Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant used commonly in Africa. Ethnomedicinal report from Mali mentions the decoction of leaves of *T. macroptera* in treatment of epilepsy [96], and anxiolytic effects of *T. macroptera* has also been reported by [97]. The study was carried out to investigate the antipsychotic effects of *T. macroptera* in an experimental model of ketamineinduced psychosis in mice. Ketamine and apomorphine were used to induce stereotyped psychotic behavioral symptoms in mice. Behavioral studies (stereotype behavior, locomotor activity, immobility duration and memory retention) were carried out to investigate the protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of *T. macroptera* on ketamine-induced psychotic symptoms, repeated treatment with the ethyl acetate fraction for 7 consecutive days significantly attenuated stereotyped behavioral symptoms, immobility duration and memory deficit in mice. The study revealed that *T. macroptera* could ameliorate psychotic symptoms indicating protective effects in psychosis. Agent that ameliorate ketamine induced psychotic symptoms are generally thought to act in a similar manner as atypical antipsychotics [12].

#### **7.7** *Crassocephalum bauchiense* **(Hutch.) Milne-Redh**

*Crassocephalum bauchiense* is a medicinal plant with diverse medicinal uses. The leaves decoction of *C. bauchiense* is effective in the treatment of epilepsy, cerebral

*Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Psychosis DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100224*

malaria, cerebral deficit, anxiety and behavioral disturbances in mentally retarded children. Likewise, an aqueous extract of the whole plant is useful in the treatment of insomnia, psychosis and other central nervous system disorders, [98, 99]. The antipsychotic effects of *C. bauchiense* extracts were evaluated using the apomorphine animal model of psychosis. The ability of the leaves extracts of *C. bauchiense* to modify the duration of akinesia was observed in the catalepsy test. Furthermore, gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations in the brain of treated mice were also estimated. The aqueous extract and the alkaloid fraction of *C. bauchiense* attenuated the apomorphine-induced stereotypy and fighting, and had significant fall of the body temperature. In biochemical experiments, the concentration of the inhibitory amino acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, was significantly increased in the brain of animals treated with the aqueous extract of *C. bauchiense.* The results revealed that the antipsychotic and sedative properties of *C. bauchiense* are possibly mediated via the blockade of dopamine D-2 receptors and GABAergic activation [54].

#### **7.8** *Alpinia zerumbet* **(Pers.) Burtt. et Smith**

*Alpinia zerumbet* has important physiological and pharmacological functions, such as antioxidative [100], anticancer [101], anti-inflammatory [102], and antianxiety [103]. In phytotherapy, *A. zerumbet* is used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression, stress and anxiety, but it is only recently that the central nervous system (CNS) effects of the essential oil from the plant leaves have been studied [10]. The essential oil of *A. zerumbet* (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) was administered once to mice to evaluate antipsychotic activity assessed by ketamineinduced hyperlocomotion, hypnotic activity induced by sodium pentobarbital, antioxidant effects (determination of lipid peroxidation and GSH levels), as well as variations in nitric oxide levels (determination of nitrite content). The result revealed that the extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg prevented ketamine hyperlocomotion, and at a dose of 200 mg/kg decreased sleep latency, while all doses increased sleeping time. The in-vitro antioxidant capacity of the oil caused a reduction in lipid peroxidation and increase in glutathione levels. The extract also prevented the decrease in nitrite content caused by oxidative stress. The findings indicate antipsychotic and antioxidant effects of the essential oil of *A. zerumbet* that may have promising efficacy for the treatment of schizophrenia [10].

#### **7.9** *Albizia zygia* **(DC.) J.F. Macbr. (Leguminosae)**

*Albizia zygia* is one such plant with numerous medicinal uses. A decoction of the roots is used for the treatment of insanity [104]. Several compounds including two novel oleanane-type saponins, zygiaosides A and B, were lately isolated from the roots of *A. zygia* [105].

*A. zygia* effects were assessed against apomorphine-induced cage climbing, ketamine induced hyperlocomotion, enhanced immobility, impaired social interaction as well as novel object recognition. The propensity of the extract to induce catalepsy and to attenuate haloperidol-induced catalepsy were also investigated. Findings revealed that *A. zygia* extract significantly attenuated apomorphineinduced climbing behavior as well as ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion, immobility and object recognition deficits. Furthermore, the extract had no cataleptic effect. The root extract of *A. zygia* therefore exhibited antipsychotic-like activity in mice with potential to alleviate positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia [51].
