Anticonvulsant and Sedative Activities of Extracts of Erythrophleum Ivorense Stem Bark in Mice

Erythrophleum ivorense is used traditionally for many ailments such as convulsion, swellings, pain and emesis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant and sedative activities of extracts of Erythrophleum ivorense stem bark in mice. Anticonvulsant effect of the extracts was assessed using picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazole and strychnine-induced convulsion and sedative effect was evaluated using pentobarbitone-induced hypnotic method. The results of this study showed that, crude methanolic extract and ethyl acetate extract significantly (p < 0.05) delayed the onset, shortened the duration and offered protection against pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion. The extracts also antagonized picrotoxin-induced convulsion profoundly but did not antagonize strychnine-induced convulsion. Crude methanolic extract and ethyl acetate extract significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged the time of sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the crude methanolic extract was found to be 87 mg/kg. In conclusion, crude methanolic extract and ethyl acetate extract of Erythrophleum ivorense possessed anticonvulsant and CNS depressant properties.