PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENIONG AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ANTI-EPILETIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF GYMNOSPORIA EMARGINATA ON ELECTRIC SHOCK AND PTZ-INDUCED CONVULSIONS IN RATS
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Abstract
Gymnosperia emarginata (Willd.) grow in moderately fertile, moist but well†drained soil in full sun with midday shade. This study investigated the antiepileptic of the ethanolic leaf extract of the plant. Three widely used animal models of epilepsy namely the pentylenetetrazole, picrotoxin and maximal electroshock-induced seizure tests were used to evaluate the anticonvulsant effects of the extract. In the pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, ethanolic extracts  of Gymnosperia emarginata (50,100 and 200 mg/kg p.o) caused marked and dose-dependent delay of the onset of myoclonic jerks and decreased the duration of tonic-clonic convulsions. The extract delayed the onset of tonic convulsions and decreased the frequency of convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole. Onset of tonic convulsions induced by picrotoxin was also significantly delayed by Gymnosperia emarginata and the frequency and duration of convulsions significantly reduced. The onset of picrotoxin-induced myoclonic jerks was delayed by the extract. Again, the extract showed marked anticonvulsant activity by significantly reducing the duration of maximal electroshock-induced tonic hind limb extension. Administration of Gymnosperia emarginata (50,100 and 200 mg/kg p.o) in rats caused significant anxiolytic effects similar to that of diazepam (20 mg/kg i.p) and opposite to that of pentylenetetrazole (3-30 mg/kg i.p) increased the frequency and duration of unprotected stretch-attend postures as well as unprotected head dips.
In conclusion, the results indicate that the leaves of Gymnosperia emarginata produces anticonvulsant effect through central mechanisms which support the traditional use of the plant to treat epileptic fitsDownloads
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