Abstract

Eric Woode*, David Abasiwani Alagpulinsa and Wonder Kofi Mensah Abotsi

Leea guineensis G. Don (Family: Leeaceae) is an evergreen shrub or small tree used in Ghanaian traditional medicine to treat various ailments including epileptic fits and pain. However, little scientific evidence exists to support its use. The present study examined the anti-nociceptive, anti-anxiety and anticonvulsant effects of the aqueous leaf extract of L. guineensis (LGE) in murine models of pain (formalin test), anxiety (elevated plus-maze and light/dark box tests) and convulsion (pentylenetetrazole-, picrotoxin- and maximal electroshock-induced seizures tests). LGE (30 to 300 mg/kg, p.o.) and the positive control morphine (3 to 10 mg/kg, i.p.) exerted profound dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin test. LGE (30 to 300 mg/kg, p.o.) also showed anxiolytic effects similar to diazepam (0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) but contrary to pentylenetetrazole (3 to 30 mg/kg, i.p.). LGE increased the frequency and duration of open arm exploration while decreasing the protected forms of stretch-attend postures and head-dips in the elevated plus-maze. It also decreased the emergence latency of mice into the lit compartment of the light/dark box and increased the amount of time spent there. LGE (30 to 300 mg/kg, p.o) also exhibited significant anticonvulsant activity by protecting mice against pentylenetetrazole-, picrotoxin- and maximal electroshock-induced seizures. At all the doses used, LGE produced no motor deficits in mice. Together, the results suggest that the extract has anti-nociceptive, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties which support its traditional use.