ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized predominantly by recurrent and unpredictable interruptions of normal brain function, called epileptic seizures. Although herbal medicine is widely accepted and utilized in antiepileptic therapy, there is scarcity of concrete information regarding the effectiveness and toxicity of majority of the herbs.The study of these herbs may also lead to the discovery of new antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-seizure effect of methanol leaf extract of Ekebergia senegalensis in mice using pentylenetetrazole, strychnine, picrotoxin and pilocarpine models of seizures

METHOD: Swiss albino mice weighing (24±5g) were divided into 5 groups: control (distilled water, 10mL/kg), standard, diazepam (1mg/kg and 10mg/kg in pilocarpine induced seizure), plant extracts (100, 200 and 500mg/kg respectively). Thirty minutes after oral treatment with control, standard drug and test respectively, seizure was induced by intraperitoneal administration of pentylenetetrazole (70mg/kg), strychnine (5mg/kg), picrotoxin (1mg/kg) or pilocarpine (400 mg/kg). Seizure latency was the parameter recorded

RESULTS: In the pentylenetetrazole induced seizure model, the plant extract significantly (p<0.05) increased, in a non-dose-dependent manner the latency to tonic seizures, with no effect on duration of seizures compared to the control. The highest effect was seen with the 100mg/kg dose of the extract. The plant extract also did not show significant increase in the latency of seizure in the strychnine, picrotoxin and pilocarpine induced seizure. A dose dependent increase in the percentage protection from seizure and mortality was observed in the pilocarpine induced seizure.

CONCLUSION: The methanol leaf extract of Ekebergia senegalensis showed anti-seizure effect in pentylenetetrazole induced seizure hence, thepossesses anti-seizure property.