Protective Effect of Cucurbita maxima against Maximal Electroshock Induced Convulsions

In the present investigation, an indigenous plant, Cucurbita maxima was studied for its protective effect against maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsions in Wistar albino rats. The rats were pretreated with different doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) of hydroalcoholic extract of seeds of Cucurbita maxima for 14 days and then, they were subjected to maximal electroshock seizures (40 mA for 0.2 sec) treatment. Hydroalcoholic extract of Cucurbita maxima seeds at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses significantly reduced the duration of hind limb extension along with the protection of rats against maximal electroshock induced seizures. The reference standard i.e., phenytoin (20 mg/kg) provided complete protection. Thus, present study revealed anticonvulsant effect of Cucurbita maxima against maximal electroshock-induced convulsions in rats.

Anticonvulsant activity of methanolic extract of Withania cogulans in mice

Mental and neurological diseases including depression, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorders account for a considerable amount of the world’s disease burden. Unfortunately, drugs used in the treatment of neurological diseases are expensive, symptomatic and they produce undesirable side effects. People from different cultures prefer to use medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments ranging from plain to perplex disorders because they are most affordable, cost effective and easily accessible source of treatment in the primary healthcare system throughout the world. Withania coagulans, an erect grayish under-shrub belongs to family Solanaceae. It is common in Pakistan, East India, Iran and Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to analyze the anti-seizure activity of crude methanolic extract of Withania coagulans fruits (MeWc). For screening of this activity, maximal electroshock seizures model (MES) and chemically-induced seizures models were used. In maximal electroshock seizures test MeWc showed significant dose dependent percent protection against hind-limb tonic extension; significant and dose-dependent increase in latency to myoclonic jerks and tonic clonic convulsions and decrease in seizures duration were observed in PTZ-induced seizures. In strychnine-induced convulsions MeWc significantly increased latency to hind-limb tonic extension and percent protection from death in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, it was inferred from the experiments that extract of Withania coagulans showed anticonvulsant activity.

Potentiation of anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin by celecoxib against maximum electroshock induced convulsions in albino rats

Background: Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder affects more than 1% of world population. Despite the availability of a number of antiepileptics, refractoriness to them exists in approximately one third of cases worldwide. Induction of cycloxygenase and increased levels of proinflammatory meditators are seen in epilepsy. P-glycoprotein upregulation due to phenytoin was found to contribute to its pumping out of cell, leading to refractoriness to phenytoin therapy. Also, cycloxygenase-2 inhibitors were found to prevent P-glycoprotein upregulation. Since cycloxygenase-2 inhibition decreases levels of proinflammatory cytokines responsible for neuroinflammation, this study aims to evaluate anticonvulsant effect of celecoxib and also to investigate whether it potentiates the anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin.Methods: Maximum electroshock seizures (MES) were induced in Albino rats using electroconvulsiometer to evaluate tonic convulsions, identified by tonic hind limb extension (THLE) in rats. A delay in onset of THLE and a reduction in duration of THLE were taken as deciding parameters to ascertain anticonvulsive activity. Rats randomly divided into groups, received pretreatment with celecoxib at 3 doses (10, 20, 40 mg/kg), phenytoin (6.25 mg/kg), phenytoin (12.5 mg/kg) and combination of phenytoin (6.25 mg/kg) with celecoxib (ED50, i.e. 20 mg/kg), before inducing MES seizures and findings compared to control group.Results: Celecoxib (20 and 40 mg/kg) showed significant anticonvulsant effect by MES test. Also, its combination with phenytoin caused significant decrease in the duration of THLE when compared to phenytoin alone at the same dose.Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that celecoxib potentiates the anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin.

Anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in experimentally induced seizures in wistar albino rats.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in wistar albino rats.Methods: Anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in a dose 10 mg/kg, and its effect with the standard drug lamotrigine (5 mg/kg) was studied in a maximal electroshock seizures (MES) experimental animal model.Results: Nicardipine in dose of 10 mg/kg showed significant anticonvulsant effect (p<0.001) and combination with standard drug lamotrigine (p<0.001) also showed more significant anticonvulsant effect in MES model.Conclusions: Nicardipine is having anticonvulsant activity and it also potentiates the anticonvulsant effect of lamotrigine in MES model.

Assessment of efficacy of promethazine on seizure activity and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs lorazepam and sodium valproate in rats

Background: Presently available antiepileptic drugs are effective in controlling seizures in more than half of patients of all epilepsy but use is often limited by adverse effects. H1 receptor antagonists, have a controversial status in patients of epilepsy. Both pro and antiepileptic effect has been documented in various animal studies. Hence, this study was designed to see the effect of promethazine, an H1 antihistaminic drug and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs lorazepam and sodium valproate in rats.Methods: The effect of promethazine (10 mg/kg) and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs lorazepam and sodium valproate was assessed by using maximal electroshock seizures (MES) and chemoshock pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) method.Results: Promethazine along with lorazepam and sodium valproate in subtherapeutic doses exerted significant protection against MES induced seizures whereas no such protection was observed with PTZ method rather the seizure threshold was reduced.Conclusions: Subtherapeutic doses of promethazine alone and in combination with lorazepam and sodium valproate showed protection against seizures in MES method. However, proconvulsant effect was seen with PTZ method. This shows dual behavior of promethazine on MES and PTZ induced seizures.

Effect of promethazine on seizure activity and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs diazepam and phenytoin in Rats

Background: Current antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are effective in controlling seizures in about 70% patients but use is often limited by adverse effects. Promethazine, H1 receptor antagonist, has a controversial status in patients of epilepsy. Both pro and antiepileptic effect has been documented in various animal studies. Hence, this study was designed to see the effect of promethazine, an H1 antihistaminic drug and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs in rats.Methods: The effect of promethazine (10mg/kg) and its interactions with antiepileptic drugs diazepam and phenytoin was assessed by using maximal electroshock seizures (MES) and chemoshock (PTZ) method.Results: Promethazine along with diazepam in subtherapeutic doses exerted significant protection against MES induced seizures whereas no such protection was observed with PTZ method rather the seizure threshold was reduced.Conclusions: Subtherapeutic doses of Promethazine alone and in combination with diazepam showed protection against seizures in MES method. However, proconvulsant effect was seen with PTZ method suggesting histamine plays a protective role in development of seizures. This shows dual behavior of promethazine on MES and PTZ induced seizures.

Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of amlodipine in albino rats

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of amlodipine in albino rats.Methods: Anticonvulsant activity of amlodipine was done in three graded doses (1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg), and combination group with low dose of amlodipine (1 mg/kg) and standard drug (phenytoin) in maximal electroshock seizures (MES) experimental animal model.Results: Amlodipine in dose of 2, 4 mg/kg showed dose dependent significant anticonvulsant effect and combination of low dose amlodipine and low dose of standard drug also showed significant anticonvulsant effect in MES model.Conclusions: Amlodipine is having anticonvulsant activity and also potentiated the anticonvulsant effect of phenytoin in MES model.