ASSESSMENT STUDY OF THE PATTERNS OF SOME GROSS BEHAVIORAL ACTIVITIES IN WISTAR RATS IN SEPARATE ACUTE DOSES OF CAFFEINE AND KOLA NITIDA EXTRACT

Caffeine belongs to the methylxathine class and is recognized as the most utilized psychoactive stimulant worldwide. Kola nitida, also known as kola nut, is widely consumed for its alkaloid properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeine and kola nitida extract on the gross behavioral patterns of wistar rats. Thirty (30) wistar rats of both sexes and of comparable size and weight were used for this study. The doses investigated ranged from 10mg/kg - 160mg/kg. The animals were grouped into 3, consisting of ten (10) animals each. GROUP 1 (control group) of ten 10) animals were administered 0.4ml of 0.9% saline solution, GROUP 2 (treatment group) of ten (10) animals each, were administered with 10-160mg/kg doses of caffeine orally, GROUP 3 (treatment group) of ten (10) animals each, were administered with 10-160mg/kg doses of Kola nitida extract administered orally. Gross behavioral parameters of climbing, line crossing, hinding, stereotype movement, drinking, rearing, scratching, aggression and grooming were studied using the open field test. Prior to the test, all the animals were acclimatized for 8 minutes in the open field apparatus. Frequency of each behavior was scored manually and statistical analysis was done using graph pad prism after the duration of the experiment. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tuckey's post hoc test was used to check for the differences between the means. Results showed that caffeine significantly (p < 0.05–0.0001) increased locomotor activities, including line crossing, climbing, and hinding up to 40 mg/kg, after which activities declined at higher doses (80–160 mg/kg). Conversely, kola nitida induced a dose-dependent reduction in locomotor and exploratory behaviors at low to moderate doses, though mild increases were seen at 160 mg/kg. Both substances altered grooming, scratching, and aggression differently, suggesting dose-dependent and substance-specific modulation of central nervous system (CNS) excitability. The findings support previous evidence that caffeine acts as a potent CNS stimulant, while kola nitida, though containing caffeine, also possesses compounds (theobromine, tannins) that modulate or counteract pure caffeine’s stimulant effect.