Activity of a traditional South African epilepsy remedy in the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor assay

Aqueous and ethanol extracts of six plants, Acrotome inflata, Aptosimum indivisum, Asparagus suaveolens, Barleria bolusii, Commiphora marlothii and Sesamum triphyllum, which constitute an ancient Northern Sotho remedy for epilepsy, Sehlare sa Seebana, was tested in the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor binding assay. Both aqueous and ethanol extracts of Aptosimum indivisum and Asparagus suaveolens and the aqueous extract of Commiphora marlothii showed good dose-dependent activity. The ethanol extract of all six plants extracted together was more active that the aqueous extract. The results did not suggest a synergistic effect of the plant mixture.