Anticonvulsant evaluation of Rauvolfia ligustrina Willd. ex Roem. & Schult., Apocynaceae, in rodents

The Aim of this study was to evaluated the effects of the ethanol extract of Rauvolfia ligustrina Willd. ex Roem. &amp; Schult., Apocynaceae, roots (EER) in animal models of epilepsy. The EER increased the latency for convulsions significantly different from control (p<0,05) and in the PTZ induced convulsions test on 62,5 mg/kg (i.p.) decreased mortality. This effect was blocked by flumazenil administration, suggesting an involvement of GABAergic system in the anticonvulsant activity of EER. The EER had a moderate effect only against PIC- or STR-induced convulsions at doses 125 and 250 mg/kg. But in the MES test it did not demonstrate effect on this animal model. Therefore, the EER reduced the development of PTZ-induced kindling in both experimental groups. It also significantly (p<0.05) decreased the latency for convulsions and reduced its percentage. Our results suggest that EER owns anticonvulsant property.