Anticonvulsant Activity of Chloroform Extract of Bark and Root of Erythrina variegata L.

Abstract

To determine the anticonvulsant activity of the root and bark extract of Erythrina variegata L in mice and rats, and in order to verify the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of epilepsy. The pentyleneterazole (PTZ) and the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) models were used for assessing the anticonvulsant effects of the chloroform bark and root extract in mice and rats. The chloroform extract (500 mg/kg p.o) of that produced significant protection (71.4%) against PTZ-induced convulsion and onset of seizures compared with the control group in mice. At 500 mg/kg p.o., the extract also produced sig-nificant protection (71.4%) against MES-induced convulsions in rat. The results obtained from this study indicate that the chloroform root and bark extract of Erythrina variegata L may be beneficial in both absence and tonic clonic seizures.