Background:The present study is an investigation of antiepileptic activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a well-known plant which is being used in tuberculosis, emaciation, sterility, and it has immunomodulatory, anabolic, anti-inflammatory, and antianxiety activities. Aims and Objectives: To find the efficacy of the alcoholic extract of W. somnifera (Dunal) in preventing experimentally-induced seizures. Materials and Methods: The alcoholic extract of W. somnifera was subjected to pilot study and then screened for anticonvulsant activity on maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures models in albino Wistar rats. Animals were treated with W. somnifera at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg body weight and compared the results with control and standard. Results: Study results showed that W. somnifera extract at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight when compared to control group highly significant (P < 0.01) reduction of hindlimb tonic extension and postictal depression in MES. PTZ-induced seizures showed significantly reduced mean duration of hindlimb tonic flexion, hindlimb tonic extension, clonus, and stupor and there was no postictal depression. Conclusions: The alcoholic extract of W. somnifera (Dunal) has shown a significant anticonvulsant effect at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight, both in MES method and PTZ method and has given higher protection rate against pentylenetetrazol seizure than MES.
KEY WORDS: Withania somnifera; Pentylenetetrazole; Maximal Electroshock ModelIndia has a rich treasure of medicinal plants and has contributed to the development of the well-known system of Ayurveda, the science of life. [5,6] Many medicinal plants from India have been shown to have activity by the traditional methods of psychoneuropharmacology. [7,8]
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