Hoodia gordonii is a plant used as an appetite suppressant. This study investigated the effects of H. gordonii on pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice over 15 days of treatment. Mice were treated with H. gordonii at doses of 25mg/kg or 50mg/kg daily for 15 days. On days 1, 8, and 15, the mice were tested for sleep latency and duration after pentobarbital injection. On day 1, both doses reduced sleep latency compared to controls. The higher dose increased sleep duration. By days 8 and 15, neither dose significantly affected sleep latency or duration compared to controls. The results suggest H. gordonii's effects on sleep parameters

1. Investigation of effects Hoodia gordonii in pentobarbital-induced sleep
test after treatment for 15 days in mice.
M. C. O. CITÓ1, L. K. X. SANTOS1, M. L. FERNANDES1, F. H. C. MELO1, I. G. SILVA1,
F.C.F. SOUSA1
1
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Federal University of Ceará.
Keywords: Hoodia gordonii; sleeping time; latency sleep
Introduction: Hoodia gordonii is classified as one of the stapeliads, a group of stem
succulents belloging to the family Apocynaceae. Hoodia is a popular dietary suplement
used by Sun tribe in Souph Africa for it´s appetite supressant properties. This study
therefore aimed evaluating the effects of H. gordonii in penobarbital-induced sleep test,
after treatment for 15 days in mice. Materials and methods: Mice swiss males
weighing 25-30g, 8 animals for goup. The animals were treated with H. gordonii (25
and 50mg/kg) or saline (control) for 15 consecutive days orally, or diazepam i.p.
(positive control) and after the 1 day, 8 and 15 days of administration, mices were
submitted the pentobarbital-induced sleep test. For statistical analysis were used
ANOVA followed Newman Keuls post hoc with significance p<0.05.
Results/Discussion: H. gordonii 25 [247,0±28,49*] and 50mg/kg [237,1±48,62*]
reduced the sleep latency compared to control [349,0±26,16], diazepam [177,7±4,04*]
after 1 days of treatment. In sleeping time, the dose 25 [2210,0±213,1] no altered and
50mg/kg increased sleeping time compared to control [1820,0±216,6], diazepam
[4118,0±192,8*]. After 8 days of treatment, dose 25 [229,1 ±20,47] and 50mg/kg
[257,1±41,25] no altered the sleep latency relative to control [239,8±13,96(8)],
diazepam [160,7±9,94*], and the sleeping time, 25[2241,0±399,2] and 50mg/kg
[2677,0±290,7] were not significant compared to control [2348,0±193,9], diazepam
[4083,0±177,9*]. After 15 days of treatment, the dose 25 [534,1±55,61] and 50mg/kg
[583,2±103,0] not altered the latency sleep compared to control [503,3±78,76],
diazepam [160,4±10,01*] and the sleeping time dose 25 [1658,0±198,7] and 50mg/kg
[576,3±217,0(8)] no altered compared to control [1209,0±372,4], diazepam
[3981±174,1*]. Conclusion: The results suggest H. gordonii altered the sleeping time
and latency sleep in accordance with treatment time.
Financial Support: Capes, CNPq, Funcap.