Effects of Nutmeg Consumption on the Open Field Locomotor Activities in Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Effects of Nutmeg consumption commonly used as a spice m various dishes, as components of teas and soft drinks or mixed in milk and alcohol on the locomotor activities of adult will star rats was carefully studied. The rats of both sexes (n = 24), with average weight of 200g were randomly assigned into two groups - Treatment (A& B) (n=16) and Control (c) (n=8) groups. The rats in the treatment groups (A& B) received 1g and 2g of nutmeg thoroughly mixed with the feeds respectively on a daily basis. The control group (c) received equal amount of feeds daily without nutmeg added for thirty-two days. The growers mash feeds was obtained from Edo Feeds and Flour Mill Limited, Ewu, Edo state, Nigeria and the rats given water liberally. Rats were taken from their home cages and placed randomly into one of the four comers of the open field apparatus facing the center and allowed to explore the apparatus for five minutes as the various behavioral scored was measured and subject statistically using the paired sample T-Test and Symmetric Measured Test of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) The findings indicate that there was a steady significant difference (p < 0.05) in the behaviors of line crossing and walling. There was not much significant changes (P<0.05) in the behaviors of hinding, grooming and defecation between the Treatments and Control groups of animals.