Anticonvulsant activities of the methanol extracts (leaf, root), saponins and n-butanol-insoluble fraction of Calliandria portoricensis Jacq (Benth) (Family: Mimosaceae)

Calliandra portoricensis Jacq (Benth) (family: Mimosaceae) is a plant used in Nigeria as an analgesic, anticonvulsant, antihelminthic, antidepressant and for treatment of skin rashes [1]. The methanol extracts (leaf, root), saponins and n-butanol-insoluble fraction [2, 3] were used in the investigation. The LD₅₀ of the extracts (root, leaf) carried out in mice were 1292mg/kg and 7041mg/kg respectively. The anticonvulsant evaluation was carried out in mice using pentelyenetetrazole (PTZ) and electroshock (ES) by determining both antagonistic and potentiation properties [4] of the methanol extracts at 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg, saponins and n-butanol-insoluble fraction at 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. There were no antagonistic action to PTZ induced clonic convulsion by extracts, saponins and n-butanol-insoluble fraction. The root extract showed significant (P<0.05) protection when subtreshold of PTZ was administered compared to leaf extract. The root extract, saponins and n-butanol-insoluble fraction showed higher protection against ES induced tonic seizures compared to the leaf. The root extract and n-butanol-insoluble fraction also increased pentobarbital-induced hypnosis compared with the leaf. This investigation provides scientific explanation for the anticonvulsant activities in the roots and leaves of Calliandra portoricensis.

References: 1. Dalziel, J.M. (1937), Useful plants of West Tropical Africa pp. 303–304. 2. Cannell, R.J.P (1998), Natural product isolation pp. 343–348, Humana Press, U.S.A.. 3. Williamson, M.E; Okpako, T.D, et al. (1996), Selection, preparation and pharmacological evaluation of plant material pp 5 John Wiley and Sons Ltd, West Sussex. 4. Amagaya, S; Lizuka, A, et al. (2001), Phytomedicine 8: 338–347.