Effect of Culcasia falcifolia on the biogenic amine levels in the brain tissue of pentylenetetrazole induced seizure in mice

Abstract

In the present study the effect of the ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia on the neurotransmitter levels were evaluated. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (60 mg/kg body weight, i. p) was administered to all the groups of mice to induce convulsions. After observing the convulsion, all groups rats were sacrificed, whole brain was dissected out and separated the forebrain. The brain tissue was homogenized and then centrifuged. The aqueous phase was taken for the assay. The reading was obtained using spectroflurimeter. The result of the present study shows that the ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly increased the level of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and also showed significant increase in the levels of dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin when compared to seizure control group (PTZ treated group) and was almost equivalent to control group. The findings of the study showed that the extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.001) increased the levels of GABA, dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. The ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia exerted antiepileptic activity by decreasing seizure susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice due to restoration of GABA, serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline concentration levels in mice brain.