Effect of n-butanol extract of Cannabis sativa L. extract on the cerebral cortex of adult Wistar rats

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of Cannabis sativa L. administration on neurobehavior and histology of the frontal cortex ofadult Wistar rats. Eighteen (18) adult Wistar rats (120 to 140 g) were divided into three (3) groups of six (6) animals per. Animals in group 1 (control) were given 1 ml/kg distilled water, while groups 2 and 3 were administered with 250 and 500 mg/kg of n-Butanol extract of Cannabis sativa L. respectively via the oral route, daily for 21 days. Motor function was assessed using Ladder rung walking while Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Cresyl Fast Violet (CFV) stains were used for histological studies of the cerebral cortex. A treatment of rats with 250 and 500 mg/kg showed decrease in foot fault scoring in group 2, and 3 when compared with the control. Also, cytoplasmic vacuolation, dissolution of  nucleolus were  observed  in  250 and 500 mg/kg treatment groups when stained with Haematoxylin  and  Eosin  (H&E) and  chromatolysis  was  observed  in  250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg  treatment group. It was concluded that Cannabis sativa L. administration results in motor impairment which could be due to degenerative changes in the cerebral cortex of adults Wistar rats.   Key words: Cannabis sativa L., n-butanol, cerebral cortex, Wistar rats, ladder rung walking.