ABSTRACT
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of several conditions and has been shown to have several pharmacological properties such as antioxidant property, antidiabetic effect, antianaemic effect and reduction blood glucose in diabetic rats.
The anticonvulsant effect of the hexane fraction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius was evaluated using strychnine induced convulsion, maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazole induced seizure.
Oral administration of the fraction protected the mice against maximal electroshock at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The hexane fraction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius offered 100% protection against strychnine induced convulsion at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg. The hexane fraction also reduced the latency of convulsion of convulsion on mice by 20% at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg.
The anxiolytic effect of the fraction was also evaluated, the hexane fraction significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of head dips in the mice at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg
The results showed that the hexane fraction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius possesses anticonvulsant activity which may be mediated by the potentiation of GABA inhibitory effect. The results also showed that fraction possesses anxiolytic-like effect.
