title: Anticonvulsant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu.
abstract: The anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs) from the stem bark of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine-induced seizure tests and the potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice with the extracts were examined in this study. These medicinal plants belong to the Fabaceae family and are popularly used in Brazil for their effects on the central nervous system. The extracts of Erythrina velutina (intraperitoneally or orally) and Erythrina mulungu (intraperitoneally) were administered in mice at single doses (200 or 400mg/kg). While Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu did not exhibit any protector effect in PTZ-induced seizures, at any dose, an increase in the latency of convulsion and in the death time was observed with both doses and routes of Erythrina velutina and at higher dose of Erythrina mulungu, in strychnine-induced seizure. No alteration was observed with Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on sleeping latency at both doses as compared to control (362.8+/-59.5). However, the sleeping time was increased in both plants as compared to control (943.8+/-129.6). In conclusion, we showed that the hydroalcoholic extracts of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu have anticonvulsant effects only in the strychnine-induced seizure model, suggesting their possible action in glycine system and a potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time, suggesting depressant action in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo 1127, CEP 60431-270, Fortaleza, Brazil. silvania_vasconcelos@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Silvânia M M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Natália M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Gabriel T M
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Geanne M A
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Lissiana M V
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Edilderto R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Alexandre C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Daniele S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Marta Maria F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fonteles
authors.forename: Francisca Cléa F
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Glauce Socorro B
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Viana
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004895:Erythrina; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010424:Pentobarbital; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013331:Strychnine
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013331:Strychnine; D010424:Pentobarbital; D005998:Glycine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole