Anticonvulsant effect of flavonoid-rich fraction of ficus platyphylla stem bark on pentylenetetrazole induced seizure in mice

Context: Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. Several antiepileptic drugs have been used over the years and these drugs have shown serious side effects, thereby prompting the use of medicinal plants to avert the resultant side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Aim: To evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice. Study Design: Experimental cohort study. Subjects and Methods: We evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice by measuring its antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro and identify possible flavonoids present via Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LC MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Statistical Analysis: One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the level of significance at a 95% confidence interval followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test using SPSS software. Result: The FRF of FPSB exhibited weak anticonvulsant activity against PTZ-induced seizure in mice. Maximum anticonvulsant activity (25% protection) was observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with a delay in the meantime of onset of myoclonic jerks and latency to tonic seizure. The effect of the fraction was found to be dose-independent. The FRF contains a flavanone Astilbin (flavonoid 3 O glycosides) which may have effectuated the high antioxidant activity against 2,2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) while increasing brain glutathione content and decrease in malondialdehyde content. Conclusion: Although the anticonvulsant capacity of FRF on PTZ-induced mice was minimal, this further requires an exploration of other seizure models to ascertain its mechanism of action.