Evaluation of anticonvulsant and antioxidant properties of Cyperus esculentus Linn. in various types of experimentally induced seizures in rats

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant and antioxidant properties of ethanolic extract of Cyperus esculentus using three animal models maximal electroshock seizure (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), and strychnine nitrate (STN) for inducing seizures in rats. Methods: In the entire three animal models, MES, PTZ, and STN, each model was included four groups, in which albino rats (n = 6) were used in each group. The first group was considered as control, the 2nd group as standard where diazepam 4 mg/kg is administered, and the 3rd and 4th served as test groups which were treated with ethanolic extract of C. esculentus (EECE) 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. In all the three experimental animal models, all the groups were treated for 14 days. On the last day, that is, 14th day after completion of all drugs administration in all three animal models which is total 12 groups of rats, within 30–40 min seizures were induced by exposing them to a shock of 150 mA with convulsiometer using ear electrodes for 2 s in MES model, 75 mg/kg of intraperitoneal injection of PTZ model and 2 mg/kg of strychnine (STN) model. Anticonvulsant activity was appreciated better only after abolition of hindlimb tonic extension (HLTE) in MES model and by measuring the duration of seizures and latency-induced seizure threshold in the PTZ and STN experimental rat models. Results: In MES model, EECE at a dose of 400 mg/kg abolishes complete HLTE in the rats, similarly at the same dose observed prolonged latency in the onset of seizures in both PTZ and STN experimental animal models. Conclusion: It is concluded that EECE has shown effective anticonvulsant activity in these animal models as it abolishes HLTE in MES model and delayed the latency of seizure threshold in PTZ and STN models.