Psorospermum Febrifugum Spach (Hypericaceae) Decoction Antagonized Chemically-induced Convulsions in Mice

Psorospermum febrifugum Spach is used in traditional medicine in Cameroon to treat epilepsy. The decoction of Psorospermum febrifugum slightly increased the total sleep time induced by diazepam (50 mg kg-1 i.p.). It also protected mice against pentylene tetrazol-, picrotoxin-and strychnine-induced seizures. Dose 300 mg kg-1 provided 83.3% of protection against pentylene tetrazol-induced clonic convulsions (the same protection as clonazepam 0.1 mg kg-1). For the strychnine test, Psorospermum febrifugum protected 66.7% of mice at a dose of 1000 mg kg-1. 83.3% of mice were protected against picrotoxin-induced seizures at a dose of 3000 mg kg-1. The antagonism of chemically-induced seizures suggests that Psorospermum febrifugum decoction possesses anticonvulsant properties in mice.