ANTICONVULSANT POTENTIAL OF METHANOL STEM BARK EXTRACT OF MILICIA EXCELSA (MORACEAE) IN MICE

Abstract

Milicia excelsa stem bark is used as an anticonvulsant in Nigerian folkloric medicine but is yet to be
scientifically evaluated. Hence, this study assessed the anticonvulsant property of the crude methanol stem bark
extract of Milicia excelsa (MSB) in mice. The anticonvulsant potential of the extract was assessed using
Picrotoxin-, Pentelynetetrazole-, Strychnine-, and Isoniazid-induced convulsion models in mice. The
phytochemicals present in the extract were assayed using spectrophotometer while the different functional
groups in the extract were determined using Fourier Transform-infra red (FT-IR) analyzes. The extract showed
significant (p<0.05) prolongation of the onset of tonic convulsion and death latencies with 50% protection at
different doses in all the anticonvulsant models used. The total alkaloid in the extract was estimated to be
72.7 ± 20.7 mg atropine equivalent per gram of MSB, the tannin content to be 70.2 ± 3.6 mg gallic acid
equivalent per gram of MSB while total flavonoid was estimated to be 32.7 ± 5.1 mg quercetin equivalents per
gram of MSB. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups in alkaloid. This study
concluded that extract may have anticonvulsant property which may be attributed to the abundance of alkaloid,
either in synergy or additive to other phytochemicals present in Milicia excelsa stem bark extract.