A study on the anticonvulsant activity of Withania somnifera (Dunal) in albino rats

Abstract

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]

Anticonvulsant Activity of Lacidipine against Mes- and Ptz-Induced Seizures

“…Mortality may be probably due to a combination of factors which include marked depression of vital medullary centers by persistent high concentration of circulating PTZ, hypoxia and exhaustion resulting from initial and recurrent seizures. Similar results were obtained by several studies suggesting a chronic toxicity exerted by PTZ at a persistently high dosage 22,23 . Control group animals (which received propylene glycol) were not protected against both MES & PTZ models.…”

Dietary Administration of Ethanol and Methanol Extracts of Withania somnifera Root Stimulates Innate Immunity, Physiological Parameters and Growth in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

“…However, the nature of phytoconstituents in plant extracts and their immunostimulating properties are reported to depend on extracting solvent and concentration of the extract (Dhanani et al, 2017). Withania somnifera (L. Dunal), a fast growing Indian herb, is reported to have anabolizing and virilizing effects (Raju et al, 2017). The plant has been found to possess medicinal values and various therapeutic uses in mammals (Dar et al, 2016).…”

Medicinal plants utilized in the management of epilepsy in Ethiopia: ethnobotany, pharmacology and phytochemistry

“…Similarly, Maytenus senegalensis was another well-known (cited in five countries) anticonvulsant MP in Africa including Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Guinea-Bissau [ 100 , 106 , 107 , 109 ]. Withania somnifera was another multipurpose MP (cited in four countries) used to control convulsions in Ethiopia, Lesotho, India, and in East African countries [ 107 , 110 , 111 ]. Moreover, Acacia seyal , Acalypha fruticosa , Allium sativum , Balanites aegyptica , Biophytum umbraculum , Clerodendrum myricoides , Euphorbia tirucalli , Indigofera arrecta , Maytenus heterophylla , Nicotiana tabacum, and Ruta chalepensis were the other MPs reported for their usefulness against convulsions in at least three countries [ 100 , 103 , 106 , 107 , 112 – 126 ].…”

“…It didn’t attenuate AMP induced seizure though it prolonged the onset of convulasions at 100 and 200 mg/kg [ 166 ] 23 Sida rhombifolia Wh ME PTZ & MES Swiss albino mice of either sex (25–30 g) 100–400 The ME crude extract significantly reduced the duration of seizures at all doses [ 136 ] 24 Withania somnifera S & R ET PTZ & MES Albino Wistar rats of either sex (150–200 g) 100–300 The extracts significantly suppressed hind limb tonic extension and postictal depression in MES test groups at 300 mg/kg. Moreover, a significant reduction in the mean duration of hind limb tonic flexion, hind limb tonic extension, clonus, and stupor in PTZ test groups [ 110 ] 25 Xanthium stramonium Wh PE PTZ & MES Albino Wister albino rats (150–200 g) 250 & 500 The crude extract reduced the duration of convulsions. It also delayed the onset of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsion in albino Wister rats [ 167 ] 26 Zingiber officinale Rh HET PTZ Wild type adult zebrafish of the AB strain 60 b The active constituent of the extract, 6-gingerol (6-GIN), effectively inhibited PTZ-induced seizures [ 168 ] Adult male Swiss mice 25–200 It significantly increased the onset time of myoclonic seizures at a dose of 25–100 mg/kg and significantly prevented generalized clonic seizures ...…”