Study of the Effect of Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Commiphora africana (Stem-bark) on Sleeping Time and Convulsion in Mice

I. Ezekiel；M.A. M abrouk；J.O. Ayo；A.D.T. Goji；A.O. Okpanachi；A. Mohammed；Y. Tanko

Commiphora africana ； convulsion ； diazepam ； phytochemical screening ； sleeping time

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences

2卷3期（2010 / 06 / 25）

85 - 88

英文

The hydro-ethanolic extract of Commiphora africana (Engl Rich A.) (stem-bark) was investigated for sleeping time and anti-convulsive activity. The anti-onvulsant activity was studied using the penylenetetrazole-induced (PTZ) seizures in ice.The sleeping time was studied using the diazepam-induced sleep in mice. The results showed that the hydro-ethanolic (stem-bark) extract of Commiphora africana possess significant (p＜0.05) sleep activity. The total sleep time rose (p＜0.01) from 38±0.71min in the control group to 61.8±1.07, 72±1.05 and 94.2±1.11min in the groups treated with the extract at the doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg, respectively. The result showed that hydro-ethanolic (stem-bark) extract of Commiphora Africana possess significant (p＜0.05) anti-convulsant activity. The extract significantly (p＜0.05) prolonged the onset of convulsion in the non-protected mice that were administered 100 and 200mg/kg of the extract, which showed about 60% protection in the mice. The results of the preliminary phytochemical screening of Commiphora africana stem bark extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannin, anthraquinone, cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids, saponins, alkaloids and reducing sugars. The LD50 was calculated as 471.2mg/kg in mice. It was concluded that the plant may be good in treatment of sleep disorders and may be beneficial in the management of absence and tonic-clonic seizures.