Experimental study of the anticonvulsant plants used for treatment of infantile convulsion in Nigeria

In Nigeria, convulsion, especially in children, is managed by traditional healers employing plant decoctions. A number of herbs are used for this purpose, We have carried out some preliminary studies on some of these traditional anticonvulsant plants, The experimental models were pentylenetetrazole- and electroshock-induced convulsions in mice, The acute toxicity (LD50) and the median effective (ED50) doses of the extracts of these plants were determined, Most of these plants exhibited potent anticonvulsant activity, The average onset of convulsion was delayed, while the average duration of convulsion was significantly reduced. Most of the animals showed signs of central nervous system depression. The results indicate that these plants possess anticonvulsant property, and this activity may be linked to their ability to depress the central nervous system. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.