Anticonvulsant effects of nimodipine alone and combination with phenytoin on MES induced seizures

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of Nimodipine alone and in combination with Phenytoin, in MES induced seizures.Methods: The study was conducted in mice and MES seizure was induced by Techno electroconvulsometer. In first part of study, animals were treated with Nimodipine (20mg/kg i.p. and 40mg/kg i.p.) and Phenytoin (0.5 mg/100g i.p. and 1.0mg/100g i.p.), MES was induced and durations of various phases were noted. Duration of Tonic hind limb extension (THLE) was taken as index for antiepileptic activity. In second part, the animals were treated with combination of sub effective doses of Nimodipine (20mg/kg i.p.) and Phenytoin (0.5mg/100g i.p.), MES was induced and durations of various phases were noted.Results: Nimodipine produced significant antiepileptic activity, in dose dependent manner. Phenytoin produced significant antiepileptic effect in dose of 1.0mg/100g but failed to produce any such effect in dose of 0.5mg/100g, when administered alone. But when sub effective doses.Of Nimodipine and Phenytoin were combined, a synergistic effect was seen.Conclusions: Nimodipine possess significant antiepileptic activity, alone, as well as it potentiates the antiepileptic effect of Phenytoin, suggesting the novel application of already proven safe and efficacious calcium channel blockers.