Anticonvulsant activity of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Stem bark

Abstract

Balanites aegyptiaca is used traditionally in India to treat psychoses, epilepsy, and rheumatism. The present study is aimed at investigating the anticonvulsant activity of chloroform and hydromethanolic extract of the stem bark of B. aegyptiaca which is commonly used in the Indian traditional medicine. The anticonvulsant activity of the extract was evaluated using Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) - induced convulsions in mice and maximum electro shock (MES) -induced convulsions and lithium- pilocarpine induced status epilepticus in rats. In MES Model, both the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) significantly reduced the duration of hind limb extension. In the PTZ model, both extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) delayed the latency to myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsions significantly. In Lithium-pilocarpine model, chloroform extract (100 mg) and hydromethanolic extract (100 & 200 mg) delayed the latency to rearing with forelimb clonus significantly. The results indicate that the extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca possess biologically active compound(s) that have anticonvulsant properties, which support the ethnomedicinal use of the plant as antiepileptic agents.