Anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative properties of the roots of Nauclea latifolia Smith in mice

Root bark of Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) was evaluated for its anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative activity in mice. Animal models (maximal electroshock-, pentylenetetrazol-, and strychnine-induced convulsions; N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced turning behavior; elevated plus maze; stress-induced hyperthermia; open field; and diazepam-induced sleep) were used. The decoction from the bark of the roots of N. latifolia strongly increased the total sleep time induced by diazepam. It also protected mice against maximal electroshock-, pentylenetetrazol-, and strychnine-induced seizures. In addition, turning behavior induced by N-methyl-d-aspartate was inhibited. N. latifolia antagonized, in a dose-dependent manner, stress-induced hyperthermia and reduced body temperature. In the elevated plus maze, N. latifolia increased the number of entries into, percentage of entries into, and percentage of time in open arms, and reduced rearing, head dipping, and percentage of time in closed arms. In the open field test, N. latifolia increased crossing and reduced rearing and defecation. It could be concluded that the decoction of N. latifolia, used in traditional medicine in Cameroon in the treatment of fever, malaria, insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy seemed to possess, sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and antipyretic properties in mice.