Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic evaluation of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, a culinary herb
C. O. Okoli1★, A. C. Ezike1, O. C. Agwagah1, P. A. Akah1★ Corresponding author
- 1aDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka - 410 001, Enugu State, Nigeria
CORRESPONDENCE
C. O. Okoli
*Address for correspondence: Dr. C. O. Okoli, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka - 410 001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Received: 11-10-2009; Revised: 12-11-2009; Accepted: 13-03-2010.
Volume 2, Issue 1 · pp. 36–40 · PUBLISHED January 2010 · DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.60580
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ABSTRACT
Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities of leaf extracts and fraction of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) were studied using seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol and open-field tests in mice. The results showed that the extracts and fraction increased the latency of tonic and tonic-clonic seizures and death and elicited 50% protection against mortality. In the open-field test, the extracts and fraction decreased the frequency of line crossing, center square entries, rearing against a wall and grooming, whereas grooming duration and freezing frequency and duration were increased. Acute toxicity test in mice gave an oral LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg for the methanol extract. These findings suggest that extracts of this plant possess anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like properties.
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Okoli, C. O., Ezike, A. C., Agwagah, O. C., & Akah, P. A. (2010). Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic evaluation of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, a culinary herb. Pharmacognosy Research, 2(1), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.60580