ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Anticonvulsant activity of Rauvolfia Vomitoria (Afzel)
Amole Olufemi Olatokunboh*, Yemitan Omoniyi Kayode and Oshikoya Kazeem Adeola
Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 November, 2011
Abstract
The anticonvulsant activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria (Afzel) was investigated by testing the effects of the extract on strychnine-, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in mice. Experiments were carried out on male albino mice and the animals were randomly allotted to the different control and test groups. The extract, at a dose of 200 mg/kg, prolonged the onset of seizures from strychnine, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole in the animals. Acute toxicity testing produced a medial lethal dose of 17.5 g/kg. Phytochemical screening of the plant reveals the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and reducing sugars. The results indicate a possible efficacy potential of the aqueous leaf extract of R. vomitoria in convulsions.
Key words: Rauvolfia vomitoria, convulsion, phytochemical, acute toxicity.