Abstract

ANTICONVULSANT AND HYPNOTIC ACTIONS OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Ganoderma lucidum (W. CURT.: FR) (GANODERMATACEAE) IN EXPERIMENTAL MICE

*Samuel Otokpa EDE, Jurbe GOTEP, Lydia IOR and James Simdi DALANG

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of convulsive disorders, including epilepsy is on the rise in Nigeria. The range of antiepileptic drugs has widened, yet the overall treatment outcome remains disappointing, especially in resource-limited countries. Alternatives with improved safety and efficacy are urgently needed. Several plants have been evaluated for their anti-convulsant properties. However, mushrooms have not received the same attention. The goal of this study was to investigate the anticonvulsant and hypnotic activities of an aqueous extract of the fruiting bodies of locally harvested Ganoderma lucidum in mice. The fruiting bodies of G. lucidum were collected in north–central Nigeria, pulverized, and serially extracted with n-hexane, ethylacetate, absolute ethanol, and water. The first line aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg i.p.) was investigated for its anti-convulsant activities in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), strychnine, and maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizures in mice of mixed sex. The effects on the spontaneous motor activity as well as hypnotic actions were also evaluated using the cylinder test phenobarbitone–induced sleeping time, respectively. The extract (400 mg/kg) prolonged the onset of tonic–clonic and hindlimb tonic extension seizures and conferred 80 % and 60 % protection in the PTZ and strychnine–induced seizures, respectively. The onset of MES – induced seizures was significantly doubled. Spontaneous motor activity was inhibited by 43.9 % and 83.48 % at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively. The onset of sleep was reduced by 19.2 minutes and the duration of sleep was prolonged by 166.4 minutes (400 mg/kg). The aqueous extract of G. lucidum dose-dependently and significantly raised the seizure threshold of mice exposed to PTZ, strychnine, and MES – induced seizures.

Keywords: Ganoderma lucidum, mushrooms, macrofungi, epilepsy, hypnotic, antiseizure.