No doubt Prof Iwu could arguably be described as the most accomplished biomedical scientist living and operating from Nigeria. If we overlook his failed foray into politics we can appreciate how much he has come in the area that he has his greatest strength: ethno-phamarcy.
Working with national and international colleagues, he has co-authored well over Bleep papers some as recent as 2012 like the one below

5-HT2A/C receptors mediate the antipsychotic-like effects of alstonine


By:Linck, VM (Linck, V. M.)[ 1,2 ] ; Bessa, MM (Bessa, M. M.)[ 1 ] ; Herrmann, AP (Herrmann, A. P.)[ 1,2 ] ; Iwu, MM (Iwu, M. M.)[ 3 ] ; Okunji, CO (Okunji, C. O.)[ 3 ] ; Elisabetsky, E (Elisabetsky, E.)[ 1,2 ]




PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY



Volume: 36

Issue: 1

Pages: 29-33

DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.08.022

Published: JAN 10 2012

View Journal Information






























Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of alstonine, an indole alkaloid with putative antipsychotic effects, on working memory by using the step-down inhibitory avoidance paradigm and MK801-induced working memory deficits in mice. Additionally, the role of serotonin 5-HT2A/C receptors in the effects of alstonine on mouse models associated with positive (MK801-induced hyperlocomotion), negative (MK801-induced social interaction deficit), and cognitive (MK801-induced working memory deficit) schizophrenia symptoms was examined. Treatment with alstonine was able to prevent MK801-induced working memory deficit, indicating its potential benefit for cognitive deficits now seen as a core symptom in the disease. Corroborating previously reported data, alstonine was also effective in counteracting MK801-induced hyperlocomotion and social interaction deficit. Ritanserin, a 5-HT2A/C, receptor antagonist, prevented alstonine's effects on these three behavioral parameters. This study presents additional evidence that 5-HT2A/C receptors are central to the antipsychotic-like effects of alstonine, consistently seen in mouse models relevant to the three dimensions of schizophrenia symptoms. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Keywords

Author Keywords:Alstonine; Antipsychotics; Working memory; 5-HT2A/C receptors

KeyWords Plus:SHORT-TERM-MEMORY; COUNTERCURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY; CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIA; ALKALOID ALSTONINE; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; DRUG DISCOVERY; WORKING; RATS; PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY; HYPERLOCOMOTION


Author Information

Reprint Address: Linck, VM (reprint author)

Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, ICBS, Dept Farmacol, Lab Emofarmacol, Rua Sarmento Leite 500-202, BR-90050170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.




Addresses:

[ 1 ] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, ICBS, Dept Farmacol, Lab Emofarmacol, BR-90050170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil


[ 2 ] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, ICBS, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Bioquim, BR-90035000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil


[ 3 ] Int Ctr Ethno Med & Drug Discovery InterCEDD, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria


Thread is work in progress please do not comment yet. Thanks

if i no go comment make i book space