Anticonvulsant potentials of ethanolic extract of Eleusine indica

• Published in: Journal of coastal life medicine Vol. 4; no. 12; pp. 965 - 968
• Main Authors: Ettebong, Ette Okon, Etukakpan, Edidiong, Bassey, Augustine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Haikou Journal of Coastal Life Medicine 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Albinism; Cages; Distilled water; Drugs; Duration; Eleusine indica; Mice; Mortality; Protection
• ISSN: 2309-5288; 2309-6152
• DOI: 10.12980/jclm.4.2016J6-196

Objective: To assess the anticonvulsant potentials of ethanolic extract of Eleusine indica. Methods: Albino Wistar mice were separated into five groups with six animals in each group and thereafter pretreated with distilled water, various doses of the extract (200–600 mg/kg) and standard drug diazepam (0.5 mg/kg). Thirty minutes later, pentylenetetrazole (70 mg/kg), aminophylline (280 mg/kg) and isoniazid (250 mg/kg) were used to induce convulsions by intraperitoneal administration. These mice were then placed in plexiglas cages and monitored for the occurrence of seizures over a thirty-minute time period. The latency of convulsions, duration of tonic convulsions and mortality protection were recorded. Data obtained were analyzed using GraphPad InStat 3.10. Results: The results showed that the extract exhibited a dose-dependent increase in the latency of clonic convulsions and decrease in duration of tonic convulsions as compared to the control and these effects were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The extract also provided protection against the mortality which was similar to that produced by the standard drug diazepam. Conclusions: The significant increase in the latency of clonic convulsions and decrease in duration of tonic convulsions caused by the extract show anticonvulsant activity and corroborate with the claims of the traditional use of the plant as an anticonvulsant remedy.