Pharmacological studies on Newbouldia laevis stem bark

The methanotic extract of the stem bark of N. laevis was evaluated for anti-inflammatory antipyretic, analgesic, anticonvulsant activities, as well as for its effect on the phenobarbitone sleeping time, using various animal models. The extract (100-400 mg/kg) exhibited an inhibition of the carrageenan-induced oedema in the rat hind paw in a dose-related fashion. It also produced a reduction of yeast-induced pyrexia in mice and offered 100% protection against leptazol-induced seizures in mice at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Statistically significant analgesic activity was exhibited with 400 mg/kg of extract by inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhings in mice. There was a significant potentiation of the phenobarbitone sleeping time at all dose levels studied. Acute toxicity studies revealed CNS depression by a reduction in spontaneous locomotor activities in mice, but no lethality was recorded up to 4 g/kg of the extract.