Antiradical and Sedative Non-Hypnotic Effect of Tikoni Tea Extract from Leaves of Vitex madiensis Oliv. (Lamiaceae) Locally Used in Congolese Villages

The present study aimed to contribute to the valorization of Congolese medicinal drugs and food plants. This study shows that the aqueous extract of Tikoni tea (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduces motor activity and increases the duration of barbiturate-induced sleep in mice compared to diazepam (10 mg/kg). However, diazepam decreased time to sleep onset, whereas the extract increased it. The extract therefore has no hypnotic effect; the increase in latency time could be a stimulating effect. This study also revealed that this tea extract possesses free radical scavenging properties with an IC50 of 8.54 mg/mL, which are thought to be linked to the presence of secondary metabolites in this plant.