Anticonvulsant effect of methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Mimosaceae) in mice.

Background: The leaf of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach & Thonn.) (Mimosaceae) is used in folklore medicine for treatment of various disease conditions such as; epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate anticonvulsant activity of methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (MeTT).

Methods: Preliminary qualitative analysis of phytochemical components was carried out. MeTT (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, p.o.) was administered to mice 1 h before picrotoxin (PIC) (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (90 mg/kg, i.p.). The latency and duration of seizure as well as percentage mortality were recorded.

Results: The percentage yield was 6.79w/w. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening revealed presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids. MeTT (200 mg/kg) significantly prolonged the onset and reduced the duration (60% protection) of picrotoxin-induced seizures when compared to vehicle-treated control. MeTT also produced significant prolongation of latency to seizure in PTZ-induced seizure. Moreover, the fractions produced 40, 40 and 20% protection, respectively, for aqueous, ethylacetate and n-hexane fractions in picrotoxin-induced seizures.

Conclusion: Findings from this study showed that the methanol leaf extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera possesses anticonvulsant activity. Hence, could be a potential phytotherapeutic agent in the management of seizures.