Evaluation of the central properties of Artemisia verlotorum

The anticonvulsive activity of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (HE) of Artemisia verlotorum (Compositae) was analysed as a part of a psychopharmacological screening of this plant. High doses of HE (2 g/kg) prevented the onset of electroshock (75 mA, 60 Hz) and pentylenetetrazole-induced (75 mg/kg i.p.) convulsions and also increased the latencies to convulsions induced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid (30 mg/kg i.p.) and pilocarpine (400 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. In addition, HE caused marked hypothermic and analgesic effects in these animals. Thus, the HE of A. verlotorum showed a protective effect against experimental convulsions elicited by various agents, as well as analgesic and hypothermic actions. These findings partially support the popular use of Artemisia verlotorum as an anticonvulsant and analgesic.