Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIEPILEPTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ACORUS CALAMUS ROOT POWDER IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

K. R. Pisal*, V. J. Chaware, A. T. Thorat and V. K. Redasani

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Abstract

Background – Epilepsy is socially handicapping neurological disease characterised by recurrent spontaneous seizures due to hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony of brain neurons. Maximal electroshock induced seizures induced via supramaximal stimulations at 150 mA current for 0.2 sec. Pentylenetetrazole is a GABA – A receptor antagonist. An intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (80 mg/kg) into animal induce an acute, severe seizures. Acute toxicity study of ethanolic extract of Acorus calamus was studied. The present study investgated that the anticonvulsant activity of ethanol extract of Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) in rats in order to evaluate the traditional use of this plant. Methods – The study was carried out on different epilepsy models such as maximal electroshock induced seizures, pentylenetetrazole induced seizures. Animals of these model were treated with ethanolic extract of Acorus calamus root powder (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.). Results – These results indicates that ethanolic extract of Acorus calamus root powder possess antiepileptic effect against electroshock and pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in rats. Conclusions – The finding from present study indicated that the use of ethanolic extract of Acorus calamus may be beneficial as it showed neuroprotective activity.

Keywords: MES, PTZ, phenytoin, diazepam, Acorus calamus, Anticonvulsant activity.