Anticonvulsant activity of Morusin isolated from Morus alba: Modulation of GABA receptor

Aim of the study

Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder affecting 50 million of world's total population. Number of medicinal plants has been used to treat the convulsion. In ancient time Morus alba was used to treat epilepsy and mental illness. In Chinese medicine also M. alba is used as neuroprotective herbs. The present study was designed to explore the effect of Morusin, a flavonoid glycoside isolated from M. alba as anticonvulsant activity along with biochemical mechanism.

Materials and methods

Morusin was isolated from M. alba and acute toxicity study was determined. Anticonvulsant activity of Morusin (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied by using isoniazid (INH) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsion models; diazepam (5 mg/kg) and phenytoin (20 mg/kg) were used as standards, respectively. Biochemical mechanism was investigated by estimating the GABA level in brain.

Results

The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of Morusin was found up to 20 mg/kg. Treatment with Morusin (5 and 10 mg/kg) delayed onset of convulsion and tonic hind limb extension along with duration of tonic-clonic convulsions as well as it significantly reduced mortality in INH and MES-induced convulsion. Rats treated with Morusin (5 and 10 mg/kg) significantly increased level of brain GABA at both doses.

Conclusion

The findings of current study provide pharmacological credibility to anticonvulsant activity of Morusin. The protection against the convulsions and restoration of GABA level give a suggestion to its probable mechanism of action.