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Sedative and anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Equisetum arvense.

Dos Santos JG, Blanco MM, Do Monte FH, Russi M, Lanziotti VM, Leal LK, Cunha GM

Department of Psychobiology, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862, 5 andar, 04023-900, São Paulo, Brazil. Guistos@lycos.com

The hydroalcoholic extract of Equisetum arvense (HAE) tested at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg showed a significant activity on the open-field, enhanced the number of falls in the rota-rod reducing the time of permanence in the bar and increased the sleeping time (46% and 74%) in the barbiturate-induced sleeping time. In the pentylenetetrazole-seizure, it increased the first convulsion latency, diminished the severity of convulsions, reduced the percentage of animals which developed convulsion (50% and 25%) and protected animals from death. On the contrary, in the elevated plus maze, the doses 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg did not affect the evaluated parameters. Thus, HAE presented anticonvulsant and sedative effects. Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of tannins, saponins, sterols and flavonoids.

Published 5 September 2005 in Fitoterapia, 76(6): 508-13.
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