Anticonvulsant Activity of the Aqueous Leaf Extract Of Croton Zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae) In Mice and Rats

To determine the anticonvulsant activity of the leaf extract of Croton zambesicus 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 aqueous leaf extract in mice and rats. In the PTZ test, the leaf extract (1000-2000 mg/kg p.o.) produced a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the onset of seizures in rats and mice compared with the control group. The aqueous extract (1500 and 2000 mg/kg p.o.) produced (42.9%) protection in rats, while (1000 mg/kg p.o.) produced significant protection (71.4%) against PTZ-induced convulsion in mice. In the MES test, the aqueous extract (500-1500 mg/kg p.o.) produced a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in the onset of seizures compared with the control group. At (1500 mg/kg p.o.) the extract also produced significant protection (71.4%) against MES-induced convulsions in mice. The results obtained from this study indicate that the aqueous leaf extract of Croton zambesicus may be beneficial in both absence and tonic clonic seizures.