title: Anticonvulsant properties of the methanolic extract of Cyperus articulatus (Cyperaceae).
abstract: The methanolic extract of rhizomes of Cyperus articulatus, a plant used in traditional medicine in Africa and Latin America for many diseases, possesses anticonvulsant activity in mice. This extract protected mice against maximal electroshock (MES)- and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures. It also delayed the onset of seizures induced by isonicotinic acid hydrazide and strongly antagonized N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced turning behavior. The ED(50) for protection against seizures was 306 (154-541) mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) for the PTZ test and 1005 (797-1200) mg/kg i.p. for the MES test. The ED(50) of methanolic extract against N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced turning behavior was 875 (623-1123) mg/kg i.p. C. articulatus L. methanolic extract protected 54% of mice from seizures induced by strychnine at the dose of 1000 mg/kg i.p. but had no or a moderate effect only against picrotoxin- or bicuculline-induced seizures. With these effects, the rhizome of C. articulatus L. possesses anticonvulsant properties in animals that might explain its use as a traditional medicine for epilepsy in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Biologiques, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Ngaoundéré, B.P. 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon. boum@cna-assur.com
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Bum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmutz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bopelet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeker
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Olpe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herrling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003292:Convulsants / Q000633:toxicity; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003292:Convulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole