Abstract

ANTI CONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF BARRINGTONIA ASIATICA

G. Sandhya Rani* and Thirupathi Gorre

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present report is an investigation of anti seizure activity of Barringtonia asiatica (L.), is a well known plant which is being used in Indian Traditional Medicines for epilepsy, nervous disorders, bronchitis and liver ailments. Method: The methanolic (90%) extract of Barringtonia asiatica (L.) (MEBA) was subjected to acute toxicity and then screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures models in albino wistar rats. Acute toxicity of extract was non toxic up to the recommended dose 2000mg/kg body weight orally as per OECD guidelines No.423. Animals were pretreated with MEBA at the doses of 250 and 500mg/kg body weight. Results and Discussion: The study reported the significant delay in clonic seizure induced by PTZ and dose dependent decrease in duration of hindleg extensor phase in MES model. In MES model, MEBA showed significant reduction in duration of hindleg extension with 250 mg/kg dose and effect was dramatically reduced with 500mg/kg. Similar dose dependent results were obtained in PTZ model by delayed the onset of clonic convulsions. The complete protective effect against mortality was reported in both the tests. Conclusion: This study predicted possible mechanism of the formulation mediated through chloride channel of the GABA or benzodiazepine receptor complex .However, the exact mechanism of action is not clear, but attributed to its antiepileptic effect. The methanolic extract of Barringtonia asiatica (L.) deserves further investigation for detailed elucidation of active constituents and the mechanisms of action.

Keywords: Antiseizure activity, Traditional Medicine, Barringtonia asiatica, Pentylenetetrazole.