Anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and sedative activities of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Mitragyna stipulosa

The anticonvulsant activity of Mitragyna stipulosa (MS) was explored using pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ; i.p.), picrotoxin- (PIC; i.p.), and strychnine (STR; i.p.)-induced seizures in Swiss albino mice, whereas phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time and open field test (OFT) were used to assess the sedative and anxiolytic effects, respectively. Animals were pretreated with flumazenil (5 mg kg−1; i.p. gamma aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor antagonist), l-arginine (750 mg kg−1; p.o. nitric oxide (NO) precursor) and l-nitroarginine (L-NNA) (4 mg kg−1 i.p. nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor) to investigate the possible mechanism(s) of anticonvulsant activity. Oral administration of MS delayed the onset and reduced the duration of seizures induced by PIC, STR, and PTZ. Pretreatment of mice with L-arginine, flumazenil, and L-NNA reversed the anticonvulsant effect of MS compared to MS (200 mg kg−1) administered alone. MS potentiated Phenobarbitone (PBT)-Induced sleeping time compared to control and decreased the line crossing, center crossing, and immobility in OFT. Data revealed the potent anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative activities of hydro-ethanol leaf extract from MS that interact with GABAergic and nitrergic systems.