Evaluation of antiepileptic activity of methanolic leaves extract of Tragia involucrata Linn. in mice

The present investigation was aimed to study an antiepileptic activity of methanolic extract of Tragia involucrata Linn in mice. In vivo screening models like maximal electroshock-induced convulsion (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin (PTX) induced models are used to evaluate the antiepileptic effects of the extracts. The biochemical estimation was done by measuring the lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH). In the MES induced convulsion, methanolic extract of Tragia involucrata (METI) at high dose (800 mg/kg body weight), showed high significant inhibition on tonic hind limb extension (THLE, 6.83 ±0.30***) and decrease in duration of stupor period (108.7 ±6.53***). In PTZ and PTX induced model METI (400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg) showed significant delay on the onset of convulsions, decreased duration of convulsion and reduced mortality significantly. It also showed significant decrease in brain MDA level in lipid peroxidation profile, and increase in the brain glutathione levels in mice against PTZ induced convulsion. The results confirmed that Tragia involucrata Linn possesses dose dependent antiepileptic activity.