Preclinical Evaluation of Some Medicinal Plants and Their Formulation for the Treatment of Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: Preclinical evaluation of some medicinal plants and their formulation for the treatment of epilepsy. newlineMethods: Traditionally claimed medicinal plants were selected for the study. Plants were collected from the area of Dhule, Latur and the plants specimen were authenticated by A. Benniamin, Scientist D , Botanical Survey of India, Pune. Extraction of I. reniformis (IR) whole plant, M. longifolia (ML) wood, A. heterophyllus (AH) wood and leaves of A. lebbeck (ALL) was executed by using methanol and water as a solvent. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation of extracts was carried for the occurrence of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and further confirmed by HPTLC fingerprinting. Selected plant extracts were screened for their antiepileptic activity by using laboratory animals. Antiepileptic activity of plant extract was screened by using maximal electric shock (MES), Pentylene Tertrazole (PTZ) and Lithium Pilocarpine (Li-Pilocarpine) models. The treatment group of animals received methanolic and aqueous extract of I. reniformis (MeIR and AqIR), M. longifolia (MeML and AqML), A. heterophyllus (MeAH and AqAH), A. lebbeck (MeALL and AqALL) at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. for 7 days. At the end of the treatment period, different parameters were observed associated with antiepileptic action. In the MES model, duration of hind limb extension (HLE), flexion, clonus, stupor and recovery time was observed. The onset of myoclonic spasm, clonic seizure and duration of clonic seizures were observed in PTZ induced epilepsy. The severity of status epilepticus was observed in li-pilocarpine induced epilepsy. In further investigation, effective extracts of plants were used for the preparation of formulation. Formulation alone and in co-administration with standard drug, marketed herbal preparation (MHP) was screened for its antiepileptic activity in selected models. newline____________________________________________________ ___ Abstract _ newlineiii newlineResult: Preliminary phytochemical investigati