%0 Journal Article
%T Anticonvulsant Activity of Extracts of Plectranthus barbatus Leaves in Mice
%A Luciana Cristina Borges Fernandes
%A Carlos Campos Camara
%A Benito Soto-Blanco
%J Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/860153
%X Plectranthus barbatus is a medicinal plant used to treat a wide range of disorders including seizure. However, the anticonvulsant activity of this plant has not been studied in depth. We therefore sought to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of P. barbatus leaves on seizures induced by strychnine sulphate (2.0 mg/kg) and pilocarpine (600 mg/kg) in mice. The extract was administered orally at 1, 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg. We report that the P. barbatus extract had marked anticonvulsant activity against strychnine-induced convulsions, but was quite ineffective against pilocarpine-induced convulsions. Further experiments will be required to identify the active molecules(s) and their mechanism(s) of action.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/860153/