Pharmacological Trials of Crude Extract of Passiflora alata

Abstract

Dry extract obtained from leaves of Passiflora alata yielded 0.217 mg% of harman-like alkaloids and 44.8 mg% of flavonoids. Intraperitoneal administration (i. p.) of 75 and 150 mg/kg of this extract reduced the spontaneous motor activity and prolonged the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital sodium in mice. The extract showed anticonvulsant action on pentylenetetrazole induced seizures, increasing both its onset time and survival period. All animals treated previously with 75 mg/kg of extract died after clonic and tonic convulsions, while 16.7% of the group treated with 150 mg/kg survived. The DL50 value of the extract was estimated as 456 (424-491) mg/kg i. p. in mice.