title: Anticonvulsant effects of extracts of the west African black pepper, Piper guineense.
abstract: A water extract of the West African black pepper Piper guineense L. was tested for activity against audiogenic seizures in DBA/2 mice, and against seizures induced in T.O. mice by N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMDLA), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroschock. Single intraperitoneal doses of the extract produced significant protection of DBA/2 mice against audiogenic seizures. The highest of three doses tested produced 100% and 58% protection at 6 h and 18 h after treatment, respectively. The extract also protected T.O. mice against convulsions induced by NMDLA and maximal electroshock but it had no significant effect on PTZ-induced convulsions. The doses of the extract tested did not cause significant impairment of performance of T.O. mice on a rotarod test. The results indicate that the extract of P. guineense has prolonged anticonvulsant activity at doses which do not cause significant CNS depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abila
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richens
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D017365:Spices; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole