Validation of anticonvulsant and sedative activity of six medicinal plants.

Acanthus montanus, Alchornea laxiflora, Hyptis spicigera, Microglossa pyrifolia, Piliostigma reticulatum, and Voacanga africana were evaluated with respect to anticonvulsant and sedative activity in mice using animal models (maximal electroshock (MES), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), isonicotinic hydrazide acid (INH), picrotoxin (PIC), and strychnine (STR)-induced convulsions or turning behavior and diazepam-induced sleep). Acanthus montanus protected 66.6% of mice against MES-, PIC-, and STR-induced convulsions and 83.3% of mice from PTZ-induced convulsions. Alchornea laxiflora protected 75% and 87.5% of mice in the STR and NMDA tests, respectively, at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Hyptis spicigera protected 100 and 87.5% of mice against STR- and PTZ-induced convulsions, respectively, at a dose of 160 mg/kg. Microglossa pyrifolia protected 50% to 100% of mice against convulsions. Piliostigma reticulatum protected 62.5% to 100% of mice against convulsions and turning behavior. Voacanga africana protected 62.5% to 87.5% of mice against convulsions and turning behavior. All of the plants except A. laxiflora also exerted sedative activity by strongly increasing the total duration of sleep induced by diazepam.