Effects of Ethanolic Root Extract of Clitoria ternatea against Experimentally Induced Convulsions and Anxiety in Rodents

Abstract

In animal models for screening for anticonvulsant activity, it has been scientifically established that medicinal herbs used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy possess promising anticonvulsant properties and can be a source of newer anticonvulsants. This study's objective was to evaluate the ethanolic root extract of Clitoria ternatea Linn for its preliminary phytochemical components, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic effects. Anticonvulsant activity was evaluated against Maximum electroshock (MES) induced convulsion and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion model in rats. Using phenytoin (25 mg/kg) as a standard drug, the efficacy of the extract at oral dose levels of 200 and 400 mg/kg were evaluated in an experimental rat model. The marble bury test was used to assess the mice for anxiolytic activity, and lorazepam served as the standard drug at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening revealed that C. ternatea extract contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, triterpenoids, phenols and steroids. The ethanolic extract significantly decreased the duration of tonic flexion and tonic extension in MES induced model (p<0.05). The ethanolic extract significantly increased the latency of convulsion and decreased the duration of convulsion in PTZ induced model (p<0.05). The ethanolic root extract were found to be significantly decrease the number of marbles buried in the treated groups as compared to control group, indicating anxiolytic activity. According to specific investigations, terpenes and steroids exhibited anticonvulsant effects in some experimental seizure models, including MES and PTZ. Alkaloids and triterpenes, which are phytoconstituents in ethanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea (EECT), might be the basis of its anxiolytic actions. Based on the findings of the study, Clitoria ternatea's ethanolic root extract has anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects on animals.