ANTIEPILEPTIC ACTIVITY OF THE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF ERYTHRINA FUSCA LOUR BARK AGAINST THE ANIMAL MODELS OF MES, PTX­ AND PTZ ­ INDUCED EPILEPTIC SEIZURE MODELS

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti‐epileptic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of the bark of Erythrina fusca Lour. (HAEEF)
using different in vivo experimental models. Experimental models of epileptiform seizures (EMES) have constituted the nearest physiological
approach to the development of new antiepileptic drugs for seizure control in epileptic patients. Animals are used for the demonstration of an injury
by exogenous agents of epileptic seizure on the brain with its physiological significance. Epileptic seizure challenged animals treated with HAEEF at
doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg showed reduction of maximal electro shock (MES) ‐, picrotoxin (PTX) ‐ and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) ‐ induced
epileptic seizure. Seizure duration was found to be lower and onset of seizure found to increase in the extract treated animals compared to control
group. Thus, it can be inferred that the hydro‐alcoholic extract of Erythrina fusca Lour. bark possess antiepileptic effect against the animal models of
epilepsy. HAEEF significantly (P<0.01) antagonized the PTX ‐ and PTZ ‐ induced epileptic seizures and reduce MES ‐ induced tonic hind limb
extension and clonic phase of epileptic seizure. Extracts significantly and dose‐dependently delayed the onset of clonic convulsion induced by PTZ
and PTX. HAEEF significantly (P<0.01) reduced the duration (in sec) of MES ‐ induced convulsion. Thus, the result suggested that the HAEEF possess
anticonvulsive activity.