Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTI CONVULSANT AND ANTI OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANT

Syed Ashfaq Hussain*, Seema Farheen, Tahmina Sultana, Amrin Tabassum, Syed Inayath Hussain, Ruheena Khan

ABSTRACT

Objective: Cuscuta reflexa is greatly valued plant reported in Indian traditional system of medicine for various ailments. In this study, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of stems (EES) of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. was investigated. Method: Protective effects were evaluated in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (80 mg/kg, s.c.) induced seizure models in adult albino mice (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) using diazepam as a standard. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by non enzymatic glycolysation of haemoglobin. Result: The onset and duration of seizures (tonic-clonic convulsions), mortality rate and number of mice with and without convulsion within the observation period were noted in PTZ induced seizure models. EES showed anti oxidant activity. the result obtained indicated that ethyl acetate fraction has more anti oxidant activity than benzene and chloroform eluent. The detailed chemical nature of the active principles responsible for anti oxidant activity is not known. However preliminary phytochemical screening had confirmed the presence of flavanoids, alpha tocopherol and rutin were used as the standard antioxidant compounds. EES at the dose of 400 mg/kg, exhibited maximum delay in onset of convulsions (6.44 min in PTZ induced seizures) in the model with increased latency period. The suppression of seizures by EES (400 mg/kg) might be observed due to enhanced gamma amino butyric acid neurotransmission in PTZ induced animals. Good free radical scavenging activity and considerable amount of flavonoids and coumarins in the extracts might have contributed in protection offered with good anticonvulsant effects in both the models. This study justifies the multilevel therapeutic uses of stem of Cuscuta reflexa in Indian system of medicine.

Keywords: CPCSEA, FDA, PTZ, DZP, GABA, IAEC, WHO.