Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of aqueous and 80% methanol extract of Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk)in Swiss albino mice
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Pterolobium stellatum is used for the treatment of various illnesses including tuberculosis,
pneumonia,and epilepsy in Ethiopian traditional medicine. The present study was conducted to
evaluate anticonvulsant activity of aqueous and 80% methanol extract of Pterolobium stellatum
(Forssk)in Swiss albino mice using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure test. In addition,
anticonvulsant activity of the study plant was evaluated using maximal electric shock (MES)induced seizure tests. The effect of both aqueous and 80% methanol extract on motor
coordination was evaluated using a rota rod test. The 80% methanol extract has shown a dose
dependent increase in latency to onset of seizure against PTZ induced seizure tests. In addition,
both aqueous and 80% methanol extract have shown dose-dependent reduction in duration of
hind limb tonic extension against MES induced seizure test. Furthermore, the aqueous extract at
dose 400mg/kg and methanol extract at doses 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg possess a significant
reduction in duration of myoclonic seizure in the PTZ test (P<0.05, P<0.05and P<0.01)respectively. Similarly,administration of 80 % methanol extract at all tested dose levels
(100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) and aqueous extractat the dose level of 200mg/kg and 400
mg/kg have shown significant reduction on the duration of hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) in
MES induced convulsion tests. All animals received both aqueous and 80% methanol extract at
the dose level of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg did not show motor deficit inrota road test.
Phytochemical screening tests on both aqueous and 80% methanol extract revealed the presence
of alkaloids,tannins, saponins,terpenoids, and steroids. The present study revealed that the
aqueous and 80% methanol leaf extracts of Pterolobium stellatum possess anticonvulsant activity
in PTZ and MES induced seizure tests. Results of the present study validated the traditional use
of the study plant in the treatment of epilepsy, as its hydroalcoholic extract pretreatment prevents
MES and PTZ-induced convulsions in mice.
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Keywords
Seizurepentylenetetrazole maximal electric shock rota rod Laboratory animals Pterolobium stellatum