Behavioural, Sedative and Anticonvulsant Activities of Ethanol Extract of the Leaf of <i>Lagenaria breviflora</i> (Benth) in Mice

Background: Lagenaria breviflora Benth is used in West Africa as a traditional remedy for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, human measles, digestive and wound antiseptic.
 Objectives: This study investigated behavioural, sedative, anticonvulsant activities ethanol extract (EOLB) mice, its possible mechanism(s) action.
 Materials Methods: The CNS EOLB (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, i.p., n=6) were evaluated using animal models novelty- induced behaviours (NIB), sedation (ketamine-induced hypnosis), anticonvulsion (maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), strychnine). Probable an antagonist (flumazenil, 2 mg/ml, i.p.) agonist (amphetamine (2 on NIB.
 Results: LD50 values obtained 1225 mg/kg greater than 5000 intraperitoneal oral routes respectively. at all doses tested significantly (p<0.01) inhibited NIB. (400 mg/kg) shortened sleep latency (p<0.05) prolonged total sleeping time by ketamine (100 i.p.). gave 33.3 % protection against HLTE caused MES-induced convulsion, death, offered 83.3 convulsion PTZ. Flumazenil amphetamine i.p. respectively) (p<0.001) reversed effects Conclusions: concluded that leaf safe orally mildly toxic intraperitoneally. showed significant depressive activity central nervous system, sedative which may be mediated through augmentation GABAergic or inhibition dopaminergic neural pathways, thus supporting some tradomedicinal claims uses breviflora.