Anticonvulsant effect of the aqueous extract of Xeromphis nilotica in mice

Xeromphis nilotica is used traditionally to treat epilepsy. The freeze dried aqueous extract of the plants' rootbark was tested for anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced seizures and pentobarbital induced sleep in mice. Results showed that the extract significantly (p 0.05) reduced the onset and severity of the PTZ-induced seizure and prolonged the duration of sleep induced by pentobarbital dose dependently. The results show that the extract has depressant effect; supporting the claimed ethno- medical usage in controlling seizure

In vivo antiplasmodial activity of ZS-2A: a fraction from chloroform extract of Zizyphus spina-christi root bark against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice

Zizyphus spina-christi is used in ethnomedical practice for the treatment of fever. Bio-assay guided investigation of the plant's root bark was initiated and ZS-2A; a fraction from the chloroform extract of the material; eluted with hexane-ethylacetate (50:50) using flash column chromatography; was evaluated for in vivo antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Four-day suppressive; curative effect against established infection and prophylactic models of antiplasmodial studies were used. The fraction (25; 50 and 100 mg/kg; p.o.) showed a potent activity against the parasite in the suppressive and curative tests. The result suggests that ZS-2A may be a promising agent for malaria treatment