Authors : S.A. Babalola, M.M. Suleiman, A.Z. Hassan and D.A.Y. Adawa
Abstract: This study evaluates the methanolic crude extract of Datura metel L. seeds (family Solanaceae) as a potential oral anaesthetic in dogs. Following the oral acute toxicity study to determine the median Lethal Dose (LD50) of the extract in twelve (12) mice, the extract was relatively safe since when administered at the highest dose (5,000 mg kg-1) no sign of toxicity and no death was recorded. In the in vivo sedative and anaesthetic study of the effect of Datura metel L. in this research, the observed pharmacological effect of the extract administered orally to 5 dogs separately at a dose rate of 0.6, 1.2, 1.5, 2 and 2.4 g kg-1, respectively during establishment of a suitable pilot oral anaesthetic doses, showed a graded dose response relationship. The extract at an oral dose of 2.4 g kg-1 induced surgical anaesthesia in dogs with increased heart and respiratory rates (107-205 bpm and 36.33-41.33 cpm), respectively, normal rectal temperature (37.83°C), adequate tissue perfusion, good muscle relaxation but poor analgesia, loss of anal sphincter tone and loss of pupillary reflex. The dogs recovered without any complications. This study has shown that the seed extract of Datura metel L. is relatively safe, induced sleep similar to that of thiopentone sodium anaesthesia with good anaesthetic indices at the oral dose rate of 2.4 g kg-1 in dogs.
S.A. Babalola, M.M. Suleiman, A.Z. Hassan and D.A.Y. Adawa, 2013. Evaluation of the Crude Methanolic Seed Extract of Datura metel L. as a Potential Oral Anaesthetic in Dogs. Veterinary Research, 6: 115-119.