title: Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of Leonotis leonurus.
abstract: Water extract of Leonotis leonurus was tested for anticonvulsant activity against seizures produced in mice by pentylenetetrazole, picrotoxin, bicuculline and N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (intraperitoneal injections). L. leonurus extract in the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively protected 37.5% and 50% of animals used and significantly (p < 0.05; Student's t-test) delayed pentylenetetrazole (90 mg/kg)-induced tonic seizures. Similarly, the same doses of L. leonurus extract significantly (p < 0.05; Student's t-test) delayed the onset of tonic seizures produced by picrotoxin (8 mg/kg) and N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (400 mg/kg). However, all the doses of aqueous extract of L leonurus used did not alter the seizures induced by bicuculline (20 mg/kg) to any significant extent. The data suggest that the extract of L. leonurus has anticonvulsant activity and may probably be acting through non-specific mechanisms, since it affects both gabaergic and glutaminergic systems. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and phytochemical tests carried out respectively show a spectrum profile, characteristic of L. leonurus and the presence of alkaloids, saponins and tannins in the extract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Amabeoku
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Eagles
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Springfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001640:Bicuculline; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019686:Lamiaceae; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010852:Picrotoxin; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001640:Bicuculline; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010852:Picrotoxin; D010936:Plant Extracts; C083705:N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid