Evaluation of antiepileptic activity of trachyspermum ammi (ajwain oil) alone and as an adjuvant to diazepam in swiss albino mice

Background: Epilepsy is defined as a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. Taking into account high prevalence of epilepsy and the adverse effects of the current antiepileptic agents which leads to noncompliance, more attempts should be made to re-explore the natural sources for new drug discoveries.Methods: The antiepileptic activity of Ajwain oil alone and as adjuvant to diazepam in swiss albino mice was evaluated using Maximum Electro Shock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure model. A total of forty eight (N=48) swiss albino mice weighing 20-30g of either sex were used in the study. Animals were divided into 2 sets of 24 animals each, which were further divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each. In either set, control received - 2% Tween 80 (10mg/kg); standard- Diazepam (2mg/kg); Test drug- Ajwain oil (75mg/kg) and Adjuvant group- Ajwain oil (75mg/kg) + Diazepam (2mg/kg). All the drugs were given intraperitoneally 30min before inducing seizures.Results: One way ANOVA was used to compare the means of all the groups followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test for statistical evaluation. In MES model, test drug showed statistically significant antiepileptic activity compared to control, however the results were comparable to standard. In PTZ, adjuvant therapy showed significant activity compared to standard, with a p value <0.001.Conclusions: Therefore, authors conclude that Ajwain oil has significant anti-epileptic activity.

Echinacoside, an active constituent of Herba Cistanche, suppresses epileptiform activity in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons

Echinacoside, an active compound in the herb Herba Cistanche, has been reported to inhibit glutamate release. In this study, we investigated the effects of echinacoside on spontaneous excitatory synaptic transmission changes induced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), by using the in vitro rat hippocampal slice technique and whole-cell patch clamp recordings from CA3 pyramidal neurons. Perfusion with echinacoside significantly suppressed the 4-AP-induced epileptiform activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Echinacoside reduced 4-AP-induced increase in frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) but it did not affect the amplitude of sEPSCs or glutamate-activated currents, implicating a presynaptic mechanism of action. Echinacoside also potently blocked sustained repetitive firing, which is a basic mechanism of antiepileptic drugs. These results suggest that echinacoside exerts an antiepileptic effect on hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons by simultaneously decreasing glutamate release and blocking abnormal firing synchronization. Accordingly, our study provides experimental evidence that echinacoside may represent an effective pharmacological agent for treating epilepsy.

Assessment of effect of ethanolic extract of Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Fabaceae, activity on lithium-pilocarpine induced Status epilepticus and oxidative stress in Wistar rats / Avaliação do efeito do extrato etanólico da Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Fabaceae, sobre o status epilepticus induzido por lítio-pilocarpina e estresse oxidativo, em ratos Wistar

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Fabaceae, is claimed to be of use in the control and treatment of a variety of epileptic disorders in Indian system of medicine. The present study plans to systematically evaluate T. purpurea and to verify this claim. Status epilepticus was induced in male albino rats of Wistar strain by administration of pilocarpine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 h after lithium chloride (3 mEq/kg, i.p.). Different doses of the extract of T. purpurea were administered orally one hour before the injection of pilocarpine. The severity of status epilepticus was observed and recorded every 15 min till 90 min and thereafter every 30 min till 180 min, using the scoring system. The in vivo lipid peroxidation of rat brain tissue was measured. The in vitro NO free radical scavenging activity of plant extract was assessed. The interaction between plant extract and 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) was also observed for in vitro free radical scavenging activity. The severity of status epilepticus was reduced with the administration of ethanolic extract of T. purpurea. Ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited both in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity. The ethanolic extract of T. purpurea was found to be useful to control lithium-pilocarpine induced status epilepticus in albino rats of Wistar strain.

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Fabaceae, é conhecida pelo seu uso no controle e tratamento de uma variedade de distúrbios epilépticos no sistema indiano de medicina. O presente estudo pretende avaliar de forma sistemática T. purpurea e verificar essa alegação. Status epilepticus foi induzido em ratos albinos machos da linhagem Wistar pela administração de pilocarpina (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 h após o cloreto de lítio (3 mEq/kg, i.p.). Diferentes doses do extrato de T. purpurea foram administrados por via oral uma hora antes da injeção de pilocarpina. A gravidade do status epilepticus foi observada e registrada a cada 15 min até 90 min e, posteriormente, a cada 30 min até 180 min, utilizando um sistema de pontuação. A peroxidação lipídica in vivo do tecido cerebral de ratos foi avaliada. A atividade captadora de radicais livres do extrato da planta foi avaliada in vitro. A interação entre o extrato da planta e 2-difenil-2-picril hidrazil (DPPH) também foi observada in vitro para atividade sequestradora de radicais livres. A gravidade do status epilepticus foi reduzida com a administração do extrato etanólico da T. purpurea. Extrato etanólico da planta apresentou, tanto in vivo quanto in vitro atividade antioxidante. O extrato etanólico da T. purpurea parece ser útil no controle de lítio de status epilepticus induzido pela pilocarpina em ratos albinos da linhagem Wistar.