Effect of Cannabis indica on locomotor activity

Abstract

The effect of a resin, extracted from C. indica, on locomotor activity was studied using 3 models, viz, activity cage, tunnel board (Shillito) and amphetamine induced hyperactivity. The resin showed no effect on locomotor activity of albino rats and mice at a lower dose (50 mg/kg), while at higher doses it reduced the locomotor activity. Analysis of the pooled data in all doses in both mice and rats did not show any excitatory effect. However, when the locomotor activity of individual mice in the activity cage or the tunnel board was analysed, the drug was shown to induce excitation in some animals and depression in the others; the number of animals showing excitation was relatively more in the lower dose and those showing depression were relatively high in the higher doses. Thus the effect of cannabis on the locomotor activity is not only dependent on the dose but also the individual animal. Experiments on tunnel board suggest that cannabis produces stereotyped behaviour in mice. Amphetamine induced hyperactivity in mice was inhibited by cannabis in a dose which had no effect on locomotor activity.