title: Validation of anticonvulsant and sedative activity of six medicinal plants.
abstract: Acanthus montanus, Alchornea laxiflora, Hyptis spicigera, Microglossa pyrifolia, Piliostigma reticulatum, and Voacanga africana were evaluated with respect to anticonvulsant and sedative activity in mice using animal models (maximal electroshock (MES), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), isonicotinic hydrazide acid (INH), picrotoxin (PIC), and strychnine (STR)-induced convulsions or turning behavior and diazepam-induced sleep). Acanthus montanus protected 66.6% of mice against MES-, PIC-, and STR-induced convulsions and 83.3% of mice from PTZ-induced convulsions. Alchornea laxiflora protected 75% and 87.5% of mice in the STR and NMDA tests, respectively, at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Hyptis spicigera protected 100 and 87.5% of mice against STR- and PTZ-induced convulsions, respectively, at a dose of 160 mg/kg. Microglossa pyrifolia protected 50% to 100% of mice against convulsions. Piliostigma reticulatum protected 62.5% to 100% of mice against convulsions and turning behavior. Voacanga africana protected 62.5% to 87.5% of mice against convulsions and turning behavior. All of the plants except A. laxiflora also exerted sedative activity by strongly increasing the total duration of sleep induced by diazepam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. P.O. Box 565 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. eli_bum@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: E Ngo
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Bum
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Taiwe
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nkainsa
authors.forename: F C O
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Moto
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Seke Etet
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Hiana
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bailabar
authors.lastname: Rouyatou
authors.forename: Papa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seyni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003292:Convulsants; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007538:Isoniazid; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010852:Picrotoxin; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013331:Strychnine
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003292:Convulsants; D003975:Diazepam; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007538:Isoniazid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010852:Picrotoxin; D013331:Strychnine