Sedative and anticonvulsant activities of aqueous and ethanol dried leaf extracts of Solenostemon monostachyus in mice

This study evaluated the sedative, and anticonvulsant activities of the aqueous (AESM) and ethanol (EESM) dried leaf extracts of Solenostemon monostachyus. The sedative effect of the extracts was evaluated with ketamine-induced hypnosis (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Also, the anticonvulsant activity was evaluated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion (85 mg/kg, i.p.), strychnine-induced convulsion (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsion models. The AESM (200 mg/kg, p.o.) gave 66.67% protection, while EESM (800 mg/kg, p.o.) gave 100% protection against the hind limb tonic extension on the MES. The AESM only at 200 mg/kg, p.o. caused a significant change (p < 0.01) in the convulsion latency and time of death in PTZ –induced convulsion. The AESM and EESM (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p < 0.05 – 0.01) shortened sleep latency. At 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o., AESM prolonged (p < 0.05) total sleeping time while EESM at 800 mg/kg, p.o. significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged total sleeping time relative to vehicle. The study concluded that the aqueous leaf and ethanol dried leaf extracts of S. monostachyus possessed sedative and mild anticonvulsant activities.