Anticonvulsant effect of methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Mimosaceae) in mice.
Oluwatosin Awe , Gloria Ayoola , Ismail Ishola
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy,
College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,
College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Corresponding author: Gloria A. Ayoola
Email: gayoola@unilag.edu.ng Phone +2348063075179:
ABSTRACT
Background: The leaf of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach & Thonn.) (Mimosaceae) is used in folklore medicine for treatment of various disease conditions such as; epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis.
Objective: This study sought to evaluate anticonvulsant activity of methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (MeTT).
Methods: Preliminary qualitative analysis of phytochemical components was carried out. MeTT (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, p.o.) was administered to mice 1 h before picrotoxin (PIC) (10
mg/kg, i.p.) or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (90 mg/kg, i.p.). The latency and duration of seizure as well as percentage mortality were recorded.
Results: The percentage yield was 6.79 / . Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening revealed presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids. MeTT (200 mg/kg) significantly
prolonged the onset and reduced the duration (60% protection) of picrotoxin-induced seizures when compared to vehicle-treated control. MeTT also produced significant prolongation of latency to seizure in PTZ-induced
seizure. Moreover, the fractions produced 40, 40 and 20% protection, respectively, for aqueous, ethylacetate and n-hexane fractions in picrotoxin-induced seizures.
Conclusion: Findings from this study showed that the methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera possesses anticonvulsant activity. Hence, could be a potential phytotherapeutic agent in the management of seizures.
Keywords: Epilepsy, seizure, picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazol, flavonoid