Anticonvulsant Activity of Cleome rutidosperma Linn. in Strychnine Induced Tonic Convulsion in Mice

Cleome rutidosperma Linn is found in the tribal area of Salipur and extensively used traditionally by the tribal people as stimulant, antiscorbutic, anthelmintic, rubifacient, vesicant, anticonvulsant and carminative. The present study is an attempt to explore the anticonvulsant activity of various extracts like ethanol, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extract of aerial parts of this plant. The anticonvulsant activity of above extracts was evaluated by using strychnine induced tonic convulsion in Swiss albino mice. All extracts were able to reduce convulsion in mice except ethanol extracts. The diethyl ether extract of Cleome rutidosperma was found to have significant (p < 0.01) anticonvulsant activity in comparison to other extracts.