anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of root and stem bark of newbouldia laevis seem

objective: newbouldia laevis seem, is an ubiquitous perennial plant belonging to the family bignoniaceae with varying applicability in ethnomedicine. methods: the anticonvulsant effect of the aqueous extracts of root and stem bark preparations was undertaken using standard techniques. results: results showed that the ld50 in mice was 489.8mg/kg body weight while 5.6mg/kg body weight protected mice against death due to minimum dose of leptazole which caused 100% mortality. the therapeutic index for n. laevis was 87.2 and its safety factor was 1.5. the extract of n. laevis appears to be more effective against drug-induced convulsion than electroshock seizures because the ed50 in metrazol test (5.6mg/kg body weight was significantly lower than the ed50 in mes test (63.1mg/kg body weight). we conclude that n. laevis is safe and will offer maximal benefit to patients suffering from seizures.