ANTICONVULSANT EFFECTS OF MAGNOLIA-GRANDIFLORA L. IN THE RAT

The ethyl ether (EE) and hydroalcoholic extract (HE) of Magnolia grand iflora a L. (Magnoliaceae) seeds, a popular plant utilized in the Mexi can traditional medicine because of its antispasmodic as well as other reported pharmacological effects, were studied in adult male Wistar r ats. EE and HE orally administered in a single dose of 250 mg/kg (calc ulated on lipidic base) and 200 mg/kg, exhibited abolition of the exte nsor reflex of maximal electric induced-seizure test in 50 and 40% of the experimental animals, respectively. They significantly prolonged t he sleeping time induced by pentobarbital and only the ethanol extract induced hypothermia. No neurological deficit was exhibited by either extract according to the gait, stance and righting test. Although ulte rior toxicological and pharmacological insight is necessary, these res ults suggest that the chemical constituents of this plant could have u tility in the control of epileptic patients presenting convulsive seiz ures. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.