Neuropharmacological studies on ethyl acetate fraction of Securinega virosa root bark extract

This study was conducted to evaluate the neuropharmacological activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol root bark extract of Securinega virosa using in vivo models in laboratory animals. The fraction (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) did not protect the animals against tonic hind limb extension induced by electroshock but produced a dose-dependently protection of animals against clonic spasm induced by pentylenetetrazole, with the highest protection of 66.67% produced by the highest dose tested. The fraction significantly (P < 0.01) and dose-dependently decreased the mean latency to sleep and increased mean sleep duration in mice treated with ketamine. However, it did not significantly increase the number of foot slips in the beam walking assay. These findings suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of Securinega virosa root bark contains bioactive principle (s) that possesses sedative and anticonvulsant activities.   Key words: Securinega virosa, traditional medicine, epilepsy, sedative, electroshock, pentylenetetrazole, ketamine.