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Full Length
Research Paper
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The anticonvulsant and
sedative properties of stems of
Cissus
quadrangularis in
mice
E. Ngo Bum1, G. T
Ngoupaye2, E. Talla3, T. Dimo2,
G. C. N Nkantchoua2,
M. M Pelanken2, G. S Taiwe2
1Department
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of
Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
2Department
of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
3Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré,
P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
eli_bum@yahoo.fr.
Tel: 00237 7797 59 97.
Accepted 25 March, 2008 |
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Abstract |
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Cissus
quadrangularis
Linn grows in Savannah areas in Africa (Cameroon, Mali,
Mauritania, Senegal, etc). In traditional medicine, the
plant is used to treat anorexia, asthma, sickle cells,
colds, pains, malaria, asthma and as an analgesic.
In vivo animal models of epilepsy (maximal electroshock,
n-methyl -d-aspartate, pentylenetetrazol, isonicotinic
hydrazid acid and strychnine -induced convulsions or turning
behavior) and insomnia (diazepam -induced sleep) were used.
The aqueous extract of the stems of C. quadrangularis
strongly increased the total sleep time induced by diazepam
(50 mg/kg i.p.). It also protected mice against maximal
electroshock, pentylenetetrazol, strychnine and
n-methyl-d-aspartate-induced seizures or turning behavior
and delayed the onset time of seizures induced by
isonicotinic hydrazid acid.
The results lead to the conclusion that the extract of C.
quadrangularis possesses anticonvulsant and sedative
properties in mice and could explain its use in traditional
medicine in Africa, in the treatment of insomnia and
epilepsy.
Key
words: Traditional medicine, plant, extract, seizures,
Cissus quadrangularis |
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