Anti-seizure activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum linn (solanaceae) in experimental animals.
BACKGROUND
Solanum nigrum is claimed in traditional medical practice, to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy in some parts of Nigeria.


OBJECTIVE
To study the anti-convulsant property of the aqueous extract of the leaves of S. nigrum in chicks, mice and rats.


METHODS
Aqueous extracts were administered intraperitoneally, at a pre-treatment time of 30 minutes, at graded doses and animals were challenged with different types of proconvulsants.


RESULTS
The aqueous leaf extract produced a significantly (P<0.05) dose dependent protection against electrically-induced seizure in chicks and rats, pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice and rats and picrotoxin-induced seizure in mice and rats. The anti-seizure property of the extract was potentiated by amphetamine.


CONCLUSIONS
The result obtained in this study suggests that the leaves of this plant may possess anti-convulsant property in chicks, mice and rats.
Dept. of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria. nnwannang1@yahoo.com
Noel N
NN
Wannang
Joseph A
JA
Anuka
Helen O
HO
Kwanashie
Steven S
SS
Gyang
Asa
A
Auta
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002645:Chickens; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D032324:Solanum nigrum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts