B. Abila et al., ANTICONVULSANT EFFECTS OF EXTRACTS OF THE WEST-AFRICAN BLACK PEPPER, PIPER-GUINEENSE, Journal of ethnopharmacology, 39(2), 1993, pp. 113-117
A water extract of the West African black pepper Piper guineense L. wa
s tested for activity against audiogenic seizures in DBA/2 mice, and a
gainst seizures induced in T.O. mice by N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMDLA),
pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock. Single intraperito
neal doses of the extract produced significant protection of DBA/2 mic
e against audiogenic seizures. The highest of three doses tested produ
ced 100% and 58% protection at 6 h and 18 h after treatment, respectiv
ely. The extract also protected T.O. mice against convulsions induced
by NMDLA and maximal electroshock but it had no significant effect on
PTZ-induced convulsions. The doses of the extract tested did not cause
significant impairment of performance of T.O. mice on a rotarod test.
The results indicate that the extract of P. guineense has prolonged a
nticonvulsant activity at doses which do not cause significant CNS dep
ression.