ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Clerodendrum capitatum (VERBENACEAE) IN MICE AND CHICKS

Abstract

Clerodendrum capitatum is used in traditional folk medicine to manage a plethora of diseases
including tuberculosis, epilepsy, fever, obesity, diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, asthma, hypertension,
and erectile dysfunction. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant
activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Clerodendrum capitatum. Preliminary phytochemical
screening and acute toxicity studies were conducted. Anticonvulsant activity was evaluated in mice
and chicks using pentylenetetrazole, strychnine and maximal electroshock-induced convulsion
models at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The oral median lethal dose of the plant was estimated
to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg. The ethanol leaf extract of Clerodendrum capitatum at all tested
doses significantly (p<0.05) delayed the onset of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice
providing percentage protection of 33.33% at the 100 and 200 mg/kg doses respectively. In the
strychnine-induced seizure model, the extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the mean onset of
seizures at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, however only the 400 mg/kg dose produced 16.67%
protection against seizures. The extract at all doses did not protect the chicks from maximal
electroshock-induced convulsions. Phytochemical screening of the ethanol leaf extract of
Clerodendrum capitatum revealed the presence of phytochemical constituents including alkaloids,
flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and steroids. The results
obtained from this study suggests that the plant possesses anticonvulsant activity validating its
traditional use in the management of epilepsy.