Neuropharmacological effects of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in mice

Abstract

Effects of aqueous leaf extracts of bryophyllum pinnatum (AEBP) on someneuropharmacological activities were studied in mice. The extract indosages (50,100 and 200 mg/kg) was found to produce a profounddecrease in exploratory activity in a dose-dependent manner. It alsoshowed a marked sedative effect as evidenced by a significant reduction ingross behaviour and potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time.It delayed onset in strychnine-and picrotoxin-induced convulsion (seizures)respectively with the protective effect being significantly higher inpicrotoxin- than strychnine-induced convulsion. It also decreases the rateof picrotoxin-induced mortality in mice with LD50 of 641mg/kg. Thetotality of these effects showed that the extract possesses depressantaction on the central nervous systemKeywords: Bryophyllum pinnatum, Neuropharmacology, exploration, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant.