R Ramalingam1*, B Bindu Madhavi1, P Shruthi1, A Ravinder Nath2 and M Nagulu1
1Swami Ramananda Tirtha Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nalgonda, Telangana, India. 508004
2Department of Pharmacy, University College of Technology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. 500017
Pharmacognosy Communications,2014,4,4,59-63.
DOI:10.5530/pc.2014.4.6
Published:September 2014
Type:Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Leucas martinicensis (LM) is an herbal plant that has been used in folk medicine to treat malaria, kidney disorders, inflammation and rheumatism. Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the antiepileptic activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of LM against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice. Methods: The extract was first examined by acute oral toxicity studies and then evaluated for antiepileptic activity against PTZ induced seizures. Diazepam was used as the standard drug. Antiepileptic activity was evaluated by observing various seizure activities such as onset of seizure, duration of seizure and intensity of seizure. Motor coordination effect was studied using rotarod. Depression was studied using the forced swim test. Oxidative stress was measured by estimating Malondialdehyde content in the brain at the end of experiments. Results: No abnormalities or toxic effects were observed in the animals during acute oral toxicity studies. The extract treated groups showed late on set of seizures, decreased duration and intensity of seizure when compared with vehicle treated group. The extract was determined to protect the animals from loss of motor coordination and depression. Following sacrifice, the Malondialdehyde content in the extract treated groups were found to be less thanin the vehicle treated group. Conclusion: From the results of our present study it can be concluded that, the ethanolic extract of whole plant of LM protected the animals from seizures and suppressed the oxidative stress induced by PTZ, without producing loss of motor coordination or depression.
Keywords: Forced swim test, Malondialdehyde, Oxidative stress, Pentylenetetrazole, Rotarod test.