Antiepileptic and antioxidant evaluation of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera Lam Seed

Abstract

The present study was to investigate the antiepileptic and in vivo antioxidant effects of methanol seed extract of Moringa oleifera Lam (MSEMO). Mice of both sexes, weighing 25-35 g, were randomly divided into five groups of five each. The groups represented by control (distilled water), 0.5 mg/kg phenobarbitone, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg MSEMO. Treatment was administered to the groups prior to inducement with epilepsy using graded doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of MSEMO as well as 0.5 mg/kg of phenobarbitone. Epilepsy was induced by passing a current of 50 Amps for 2 sec using an electro-convulsiometer with the aid of two electrodes clipped to the earlobes of the mice and careful observation was carried out to check for the inhibitory effect of the extract. At the end of the three weeks experimental period, the brains of the mice were taken, homogenized and the effects of the extract were tested on nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA) and endogenous antioxidants. The extract significantly, (P< 0.05), showed the most potent protective effect against epilepsy at 200 and 400 mg/kg concentrations. Reduction in catalase level was complimented by 100 and 200 mg/kg of MSEMO. Similarly, that of glutathione peroxidase was complimented by 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of MSEMO. Superoxide dismutase showed the most potency among the endogenous antioxidants used in the study, with no significant difference, P> 0.05, in relation to the control (2.39±0.02). The study showed that MSEMO will be efficacious as an antiepileptic drug