@article {755, title = {Anticonvulsant and Anxiolytic Evaluation of Leaf Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, a Culinary Herb}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {2}, year = {2010}, month = {March 2010}, pages = {36-40}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {36}, abstract = {

Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities of leaf extracts and fraction of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) were studied using seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol and open-field tests in mice. The results showed that the extracts and fraction increased the latency of tonic and tonic-clonic seizures and death and elicited 50\% protection against mortality. In the open-field test, the extracts and fraction decreased the frequency of line crossing, center square entries, rearing against a wall and grooming, whereas grooming duration and freezing frequency and duration were increased. Acute toxicity test in mice gave an oral LD 50 greater than 5000 mg/kg for the methanol extract. These findings suggest that extracts of this plant possess anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like properties.

}, keywords = {Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic, Ocimum gratissimum, Open field}, doi = { 10.4103/0974-8490.60580}, author = {CO Okoli and AC Ezike and OC Agwagah and PA Akah} }