title: Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous fraction of Carissa edulis root bark.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carissa edulis Vahl (Apocynaceae) is used in Nigerian folk medicine to manage a plethora of diseases including epilepsy, cancer, and inflammation; its efficacy is widely acclaimed among communities of northern Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study establishes anticonvulsant activities of aqueous fraction of ethanol root bark extract of Carissa edulis (RAF) and sub-fractions (S1 and S2) in animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the acute toxicity of the RAF, S1 and S2, and the anticonvulsant activity using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), picrotoxin, strychnine, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), isoniazid (INH), and aminophylline-induced seizures in mice. Their effects on maximal electroshock (MES) and kindling-induced seizures were studied in chicks and in rats, respectively, and in the electrophysiological study. The doses used for RAF were 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg while S1 and S2 were 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. Both RAF and sub-fractions were administered once during the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intraperitoneal LD50 of the RAF was estimated to be 2222.61 mg/kg and that of the S1 and S2 were above 5000 mg/kg. RAF protected the mice by 50% while sub-fractions by 16.67% against PTZ-induced seizures. RAF offered 33.33 and 16.67% protection against strychnine and NMDA models, respectively. However, RAF offered 66.67-33.33% protections against aminophylline-induced seizures at doses of 150 and 600 mg/kg, but RAF, S1, and S2 had no effect on MES-induced seizures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results validate the use of the plant traditionally in the management of epilepsy, thus supporting the appraisal of biologically active components of this plant as antiepileptic agents.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria , Nigeria .
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ya'u
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Yaro
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Malami
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Musa
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Abubakar
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Yahaya
authors: B A
authors: BA
authors: Chindo
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Anuka
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Hussaini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004597:Electroshock; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Anticonvulsant; Carissa edulis; epilepsy; extract fraction