Neuropharmacological profile of ethnomedicinal plants of Guatemala

We carried out the Irwin's test with some different extracts of the aerial parts of Thidax procumbens L., the leaves of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br., bark and leaves of Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth. and Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp., and root and leaves of Petiveria alliacea L. At dosage of 1.2 5 g dried plant/kg weight aqueous extracts of bark and leaves of Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth. and Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp. demonstrated the most activity: decrease in motor activity, back tonus, reversible parpebral ptosis, catalepsy and strong hypothermia. These extracts of both plants we re assayed for effects on CNS and they caused very significant reductions i n spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory behavior and rectal temperatu re and they increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.