Effect of 70% Ethanol Extract and its Solvent Fractions of (Jacq. Ex Willd.) against Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure in Mice.

INTRODUCTION

(Jacq. ex Willd.), commonly called African wormwood, is a highly aromatic perennial herb and a well-known medicinal plant, claimed to be effective and safe in the treatment of epilepsy. The whole-plant extract is traditionally used as an antiepileptic agent in Ethiopia. . The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of the hydroethanolic extract and solvent fractions of whole part in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of hydroethanolic extract and its solvent fractions were evaluated against pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ-) induced convulsions in mice. The onset and duration of PTZ-induced convulsions were determined with hydroethanolic extract and its solvent fractions. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey's multiple comparisons test. < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The hydroethanolic extract of with all the three doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, showed a significant delay (504.833 ± 62.835  s; < 0.05 ; 551.833 ± 47.69  s; < 0.01 ; and 808.333 ± 64.8 s; < 0.001 , respectively) in the mean onset of convulsion and a decrease (17.000 ± 1.88  s, < 0.05 ; 13.000 ± 1.8  s, < 0.01 ; and 7.833 ± 1.07  s, < 0.001, respectively) in the mean duration of convulsion against PTZ-induced convulsion in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control (92.833 ± 13.006 s; 34.167 ± 3.683 s), and its anticonvulsant activity was significantly less compared to that of diazepam (1001.167 ± 68.430 s; 4.500 ± 0.619 s). The solvent fractions, however, did not show anticonvulsant activity against PTZ-induced convulsion.

CONCLUSION

Crude extract of has an anticonvulsant effect in mice. This might be attributed to the synergistic effects of two or more active ingredients present in the herb.