Anticonvulsant potentials of methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia Planch (Vitaceae) in mice and chicks

Cissus cornifolia Baker-Planch is an annual herb used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. The anticonvulsant effects of the methanol extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf was evaluated in chicks using maximal electroshock test, and in mice using 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole, strychnine and picrotoxin induced seizure models at doses of 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to convulsions in 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and strychnine-induced seizure models. Cissus cornifolia extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg provided 66.67% protection against picrotoxin induced convulsions. It also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to picrotoxin-induced convulsions at the same doses. On the other hand, the extract did not protect the chicks against hind limb tonic extension in maximal electro-shock test. The results obtained indicated potential anticonvulsant activity of the methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia, thus giving credence to the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of epilepsy.Keywords: Cissus cornifolia, Epilepsy, Chemoconvulsant, Anticonvulsan