A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE SEDATIVE ACTION OF LETTUCE (LACTUSA SATIVA) AND DIAZEPAM (VALIUM) ON MALE CATS

Pharmacology Thesis

Sedation plays an important role on the field of medicine, among them is on surgery, research, experiment, treatment, or anaesthetics. Using the alkaloid extract of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), the research aims to establish the sedating effects produced by the extract on the experimental animals (cats) causing sedation upon application of the alkaloid extract. The alkaloid extract acts on the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors. Thus, triggers the opening of the chloride channel, which leads to an increase in chloride conductance causing inhibition of the formation of action potential. The research study made use of ten make cats as experimental animals. They were designated into two groups, the first 5 cats treated with diazepan (valuium), and the next 5 cats treated with the alkaloid extract from lettuce. The research design used in the study was just a single dose trial. Initial condition of the experimental animals were observed and noted served as the baseline value. Data were evaluated and analyzed. Group A showed maximum effects of sedation, while group moderate effects of sedation. Despite of the noted change in the conditions of cats, the research needs further study and evaluation by producing a more concentrated and potent alkaloid extract from lettuce and a serial of test with increasing dosage of extract is highly recommended.

Department of Pharmacology