Anticonvulsant activities of friedelan-3-one and n-dotriacontane both isolated from Harungana madagascariensis Lam (Hypericaceae) seeds extracts

Chemical investigation of the crude methanol/methylene chloride (1:1) extract of the seeds of Harungana madagascariensis resulted in the isolation of two known compounds namely n-dotriacontane and friedelan-3-one. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of 1D NMR spectroscopy and comparison with literature data. The crude extract and the two compounds were evaluated for their anticonvulsant effects on pentylenetetrazole or picrotoxin induced convulsions in mice. All the tested treatments showed anticonvulsant effects on experimental models of epileptic seizures chemically induced in mice. Friedelan-3-one and the crude extract showed up to 83% protection of animals against convulsions while n-dotriacontane produced a maximum of 33% protection. Key words: Harungana madagariensis extracts, friedelan-3-one, n-dotriacontane, anticonvulsant activity.