ANTICONVULSANT EFFECTS OF EXTRACTS OF THE WEST-AFRICAN BLACK PEPPER, PIPER-GUINEENSE

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.