Neuropharmacological profile and chemical analysis of fresh rhizome essential oil of Curcuma longa (turmeric) cultivated in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Curcuma longa (turmeric) is commonly used as spice and also used to treat fever, cough and febrile convulsions in Nigeria. This study determined the chemical composition of the essential oil of C. longa and evaluated its neuropharmacological activity in mice. Methods: Essential oil of C. longa (EOCL) fresh rhizome was obtained by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition determined by GCâMS. Acute toxicity (LD50) profile of the essential oil was determined orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.); and the EOCL (50â200Â mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated for its behavioural, anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activities using appropriate models in Albino mice (Vom Strain, Jos, Nigeria). Results: Analysis of the oil showed the presence of 23 compounds with turmerone (35.9%) being the major component. The LD50 values obtained for the mice were 2154Â mg/kg, p.o., and 693Â mg/kg, i.p.The EOCL (50â200Â mg/kg, i.p.) caused significant (pÂ