EVALUATION OF THE ANTICONVULSANT EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CENTELLA ASIATICA IN ALBINO MICE

Dipjyoti Deka,Pinaki Chakravarty,Ayan Purkayastha

doi:10.22159/ijpps.2017v9i2.15483

Dipjyoti Deka, Pinaki Chakravarty + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2017v9i2.15483

Copy DOI

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the antiepileptic activity of aqueous extract of Centella asciatica in maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsions. Methods: The anticonvulsant activity of leaves of Centella asciatica (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) in mice was assessed using MES and PTZ induced seizure models. Abolition of tonic hind limb extension (MES and PTZ) and increase in seizure latency (PTZ) when compared to control group, were taken as a measure of protection. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test. The test was considered to be significant at p&lt;0.05.Results: The aqueous extract of Centella asiatica at a dose of 200 mg/kg has abolished tonic hind limb extension in 1 out of 6 animals in MES while there was no anticonvulsant action in PTZ convulsions. At a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight, the aqueous extract of Centella asiatica has shown a significant anticonvulsant effect against both MES and PTZ convulsions, where it has abolished tonic hind limb extension in 4 mice in MES method and in all 6 mices in PTZ method.Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Centella asiatica showed efficacy in both MES and PTZ convulsions in mice at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Since the clinical correlates of MES seizures are tonic-clonic convulsions and correlates of PTZ seizures are absence seizures, the aqueous extract of Centella asiatica is likely to be useful in the treatment of tonic-clonic and absence seizures.

Highlights

From the literature it is evident that Centella asiatica has been used in epilepsy and that the plant is accessible in our place the present study was undertaken to study the anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of Centella asiatica in albino mice
Epilepsy is one of the most common disarrays of the brain in the world. It is a disorder in which a person has frequent seizures due to a chronic, fundamental process [1]
Epilepsy has been described as Apasmara in the prehistoric Indian literature around 500-1000 BC [4]

Summary

Introduction

From the literature it is evident that Centella asiatica has been used in epilepsy and that the plant is accessible in our place the present study was undertaken to study the anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of Centella asiatica in albino mice. The mean duration of tonic hind limb flexion, tonic hind limb extension, clonus, post-ictal depression and seizure latency (in case of PTZ method) are recorded for different test dose of Centella Asiatica (T1 200 mg/kg and T2 400 mg/kg for MES method and T3 200 mg/kg and T4 400 mg/kg for PTZ method) and findings are compared with the mean duration of abovementioned parameters recorded for the control group used for both PTZ and MES method.

Results

Conclusion