Anti Epileptogenic Potential of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Pygeum africanum in Mice

Abstract

Several current pharmaceuticals are derived from medicinal plants, either in pure or semisynthetic forms. Drug discovery via natural product research has long been fruitful. Traditionally, Pygeum africanum (PA) is used to treat various ailments in Africa. This study explores the anticonvulsant effect of ethanol leaf extract of Pygeum africanum in mice, assessing activity with picrotoxin-, strychnine-, isoniazid-, and pilocarpine-induced seizures in both sexes. Its sedative and hypnotic effects were also evaluated using open field and righting reflex tests, respectively. PA (50–150 mg/kg) significantly reduced both duration and frequency of strychnine-induced seizures, and delayed seizure onset dose-dependently in the picrotoxin model (p < 0.05). For both clonic and tonic seizures, PA also significantly reduced duration (p < 0.05). It reduced mortality in pilocarpine-induced seizures, though it was less potent than diazepam, and had similar efficacy. The extract also showed sedative-hypnotic effects in righting reflex and open field tests.  The anticonvulsant and sedative activities of the extracts were antagonized by flumazenil, indicating that benzodiazepine receptors are probably involved in the effects. In isoniazid-induced seizures, PA (150 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) delayed onset and prolonged latency to death. Overall, PA demonstrates notable anticonvulsant properties.