Medicine For Treatment Of Epilepsy Research Articles

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Centella asiatica with valproate and phenytoin in experimental models of epilepsy in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCentella asiatica (CA) is commonly used herbal medicine for treatment of epilepsy. CA has CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzymes inhibition property and used as an adjuvant therapy with conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). That may be responsible for herb-drug interaction. Aim of the studyThe present study was planned to evaluate interactions profile of hydroalcoholic extract Centella asiatica (HECA) with antiepileptic drugs in experimental models of epilepsy in rats. Materials and methodsWistar rats (175–200 g) were used. In the pharmacodynamic interaction study, seizures were induced using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and maximal electroshock seizure (MES) (70 mA for 0.2 s). The therapeutic and sub-therapeutic doses of valproate (VPA) and phenytoin (PHT) were co-administrated with HECA in PTZ and MES model of seizures respectively. Behavioural parameters were assessed using elevated plus maze test and passive avoidance paradigm. Rat brain oxidative stress parameters were also assessed. In the pharmacokinetic interaction study, the serum levels of the VPA and PHT were estimated at different time intervals by HPLC and pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by WinNonlin software. ResultsThe VPA and PHT produced complete protection against seizures in their therapeutic doses but not with sub-therapeutic doses. However, co-administration of HECA with a sub-therapeutic dose of VPA and PHT enhanced the protection of seizures and significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated the seizure induced oxidative stress and cognitive impairment. It also significantly increased (p < 0.001) serum levels of VPA and PHT. The alterations in pharmacokinetic parameters (maximum serum concentration, area under the curve, clearance) of AEDs were also found with co-administration of HECA. ConclusionThe results suggested that co-administration of HECA could improve the therapeutic efficacy of VPA and PHT. But, alteration in pharmacokinetic parameters revel that needs critical medical supervision to avoid any toxic reactions.

Phytochemical Evaluation, Antioxidant Activity and Toxicity of Paeonia daurica ssp. macrophylla Root

Background and objectives: Paeonia daurica ssp. macrophylla, is an herbaceous and perennial plant which belongs to Paeoniaceae family. Two species of this plant grow in northern parts of Iran. The roots in powder form have been used in Persian traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy, nightmares and gynecological diseases. Several biological activities such as antioxidant and anti-tumor effects of Paeonia species have been reported. Methods: methanol-water (80-20) extract (total extract) was fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. Antioxidant activity of the total extract and fractions were evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays. Total phenolics content of the extracts was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. In addition, cytotoxic activity of the fractions was determined against brine shrimp larvae. Column chromatography with normal phase silica gel and preparative TLC were also used for the isolation and purification of compounds. Results: Evaluation of the results indicated that the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions with IC50 values of 16.55, 23.9 µg/mL, respectively showed potent radical scavenging activity. As well, the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions indicated the highest antioxidant power by FRAP assay. Due to the potent antioxidant activity, the chloroform fraction was chosen for further investigations. Three compounds were identified as benzoic acid, veratric acid and oleanolic acid by different spectroscopic methods. Conclusion: According to our findings in this study, the root of Paeonia daurica ssp. macrophyla has beneficial antioxidant activity without toxicity and the therapeutic use of this plant in traditional medicine can be somewhat justifiable.

Non-traditional anti-epilepsy medicine in treatment of epilepsy in children

Epilepsy,a common neurological disorder which is more likely to occur in children,does great harm to the physical and mental health of children. At present, use of anti-epilepsy medicine is still the main method of treating the disease. The effects of traditional anti-epilepsy medicine are obvious but many patients can not tolerate the severe side-effects. Moreover, the rate of drug resistance is high. For those children with such a disease who can not be treated by traditional medicine and those who cannot tolerate the toxicity of epilepsy medicine, non-traditional anti-epilepsy treatment might play a potential important role. Key words: Non-traditional anti-epileptic drugs ; Children ; Epilepsy

Attitudes towards african traditional medicine and christian spiritual healing regarding treatment of epilepsy in a rural community of northern Tanzania

Most people with epilepsy (PWE) live in developing countries with limited access to health care facilities. In sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 12 million PWE, 90% do not receive adequate medical treatment. In this context, traditional medicine, being easily accessible, plays an important role. However, in sub- Saharan Africa, studies on the attitude of people (both affected and not affected by epilepsy) towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy are scarce. In this study, 167 people (59 PWE, 62 relatives, 46 villagers) were interviewed at the hospital and in the community with a semi-structured validated questionnaire regarding the prevailing attitude towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy in a rural area of northern Tanzania. Various traditional healing methods (THM) could be ascertained, i.e. traditional herbal medicine, spiritual healing, scarifications and spitting. 44.3% (n=74/167) of the interviewed people were convinced that epilepsy could be treated successfully with THM. Interestingly, 34.1% (n=57/167) thought that Christian prayers could cure the cause and/or treat symptoms of epilepsy. Significantly more PWE and their relatives were in favour of THM compared to villagers not knowing about epilepsy or not being immediately affected by epilepsy (χ(2)-test, p=0.004). Further factors influencing people's attitudes towards THM were gender, tribe, religion and urbanity of people's dwellings. Our study demonstrates that not only THM but also prayers in the Christian sense seem to play an important role in people's beliefs regarding successful treatment of epilepsy. Factors influencing this belief system have been identified and are discussed.

Cinnamamides from Piper capense with affinity to the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA receptor

Epilepsy is among the most prevalent of the serious neurological disorders, affecting from 0.5–1.0% of the world's population and the prevalence of epilepsy in developing countries is generally higher than in developed countries [1]. Recently, plants used in South African traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy and convulsion were examined for their pharmacological properties in the search for new and better anti-epileptic drugs [2, 3, 4].

Antiplasmodial, GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor binding and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of plants used in traditional medicine in Mali, West Africa

The recourse to traditional medicine and medicinal plants could be an alternative to expensive synthetic drugs for developing countries. Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Mali. Plants used in traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy and convulsions are potential sources to look into in order to find substances that enhance GABA's affinity to the GABAA-receptor. An important approach in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Five medicinal plants: Boscia angustifolia A. Rich, Cissus quadrangularis L., Securidaca longepedunculata Fers, Stylosanthes erecta P. Beauv. and Trichilia emetica Vahl., used traditionally in Mali to treat malaria, old age-related memory loss, epilepsy and convulsion have been evaluated for their antiplasmodial activities, their ability to bind to the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor [1] and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity on the TLC assay [2]. The strongest antiplasmodial activity was observed with dichloromethane extracts of leaf of S. longepedunculata with IC50 of 7µg/mL (95% CI: 5–9) and leaf of T. emetica IC50: 12µg/mL (95% CI: 12–14). The strongest binding to GABAA-receptor was obtained with the methanol extract of aerial part of S. erecta. No acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in the TLC assay was observed with any of the tested extracts. The GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor assay results suggest that the active compounds are of apolar nature. The results of this study justify some of the traditional indications of the plants investigated.