Eugene O Ohanme - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Benjamin N Nwakelu - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Ekene E Nwoke - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
Uzochukwu Ofonakara - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Kenneth E Etu - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Angelinah J Oborolo - Department of Nursing Services, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Mansur A Ramalan - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Godwin C Akuodor - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Kingsley C Chilaka - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Background: Celosia leptostachya is classified under the Amaranthaceae family. C. leptostachya possesses numerous medicinal uses. Traditional medicine practitioners exploit C. leptostachya mainly on curing illnesses such as boils, fever, snake bites, scorpion stings, eye infections, wounds and pain and most notably, epilepsy. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the anticonvulsant properties of the ethyl acetate (EAF) and n-hexane fractions (NHF) of C. leptostachya leaf extract in mice and determine the most active extract between EAF and NHF. Methods: The acute toxicity was carried out to determine lethal dose (LD۵۰) using Lorke’s method. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), brucine and maximal electroshock (MES) were used to induce seizures in mice. We used Swinyard’s method of using an animal model of epilepsy. Thirty mice of both genders weighing ۲۰-۲۵ g were divided into five groups. Groups ۱ and ۵ are negative and positive controls, respectively. Groups ۲, ۳ and ۴ were pre-treated with C. leptostachya extracts (۱۰۰, ۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg). Then, ۳۰ minutes later, PTZ (۹۰ mg/kg body weight) was administered. This method was repeated with brucine (۱۱۰ mg/kg body weight). Regarding MES, after ۳۰ minutes of administration of C. leptostachya leaf extract, an alternating current of ۵۰ Hz and ۳۵ mA was delivered to the animals in each group through ear-electrodes for ۰.۲ s. Results: Regarding MES, EAF (۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg) protected the animals against seizure, while NHF (۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg) could not prevent seizures. However, EAF and NHF (۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg) significantly decreased mean recovery time (P<۰.۰۵). In brucine-induced seizures, EAF (۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg) protected the mice against death and significantly (P<۰.۰۵) decreased mean recovery time. For PTZ-induced seizures, ۲۰۰ mg/kg of EAF offered ۱۰۰% protection against the mortality of mice and significantly reduced mean onset and recovering time (P<۰.۰۵).  Conclusion: Based on the results, C. leptostachya has anticonvulsant properties and EAF extract has the highest potency.

Celosia leptostachya, Epilepsy, Anticonvulsant, Antiepileptic