title: Effects of Cyperus articulatus compared to effects of anticonvulsant compounds on the cortical wedge.
abstract: Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae) is a plant commonly used in traditional medicine in Africa and Latin America to treat many diseases. The water extract from rhizomes of Cyperus articulatus concentration-dependently reduced spontaneous epileptiform discharges and NMDA-induced depolarisations in the rat cortical wedge preparation at concentrations at which AMPA-induced depolarisations are not affected. The two antiepileptic compounds, valproate and ethosuximide, possessed effect neither on epileptiform discharges nor on AMPA- and NMDA-induced depolarisations. Phenobarbital, pentobarbital and phenythoin inhibited both AMPA- and NMDA-induced depolarisations and spontaneous epileptiform discharges. The effects of Cyperus articulatus were very close to the effect of D-CPPene. D-CPPene also inhibited spontaneous epileptiform discharges and antagonised NMDA- but not AMPA-induced depolarisations. The extract of Cyperus articulatus could contain components acting as NMDA antagonists.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Biologiques, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Ngaoundéré, B.P. 565, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. eli_bum@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ngo Bum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herrling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D029786:Cyperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts