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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF RUSSELIA EQUISETIFORMIS KOLAWOLE, O. T.; MAKINDE, J. M. & OLAJIDE, O.A. Abstract The central nervous system depressant activity of the crude methanol extract (REC) and fractions (RE1, RE2, and RE3) of Russelia equisetiformis were evaluated in mice using the following models: amphetamine – induced stereotypy, picrotoxin – induced convulsion and phenobarbitone sleeping time. At 200-400mg/kg, REC significantly increased phenobarbitone-sleeping time (p< 0.05) in a dose- dependent manner and also reduced the sleep latency significantly (p< 0.05). The fractions, at doses 1.5mg/kg for RE1 and 20mg/kg for RE2 and RE3 also significantly prolonged Phenobarbitone sleeping time and sleep latency (p< 0.05). Picrotoxin – induced convulsion was not prevented by 100-400mg/kg of REC but this dose range significantly prolonged seizure latency. A significant reduction (p< 0.05) in amphetamine – induced stereotype behavior was observed with 200mg/kg REC, but there was no protection against amphetamine – induced mortality. The results of this study suggest that Russelia equisetiformis methanol extract possesses central nervous system depressant activities. Keywords Russelia equisetiformis, Phenobarbitone, stereotypy, anticonvulsant, Picrotoxin, amphetamine.

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