Study on the Antiseizure Activities of Inner Bark of Guettarda Speciosa (L.)

This article reports the results of an investigation of antiepileptic activity of Guettarda speciosa (L.) in rats. The ethanolic (95%) extract of inner bark of G. speciosa. Linn (EEGS) was used for acute toxicity test and then it was screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES)- and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- induced seizures models in albino wistar rats. No toxicity was observed up to the recommended dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight orally as per OECD guidelines No. 423. Animals were pretreated with EEGS at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. There was significant delay in clonic seizure induced by PTZ and a dose-dependent decrease in duration of hind leg extensor phase in MES model after treatment with the extract. In MES model, EEGS showed significant reduction in duration of hind leg extension with 200 mg/kg dose and effect was dramatically reduced with 400mg/kg. Similar dose-dependent delays on the onset of clonic convulsions were obtained with PTZ. The complete protective effect against mortality was reported in both models. This study predicted possible mechanism of the formulation mediated through chloride channel of the GABA or benzodiazepine receptor complex. The ethanol extract of the inner bark of G. speciosa (L.) deserve further investigation for detailed elucidation of active constituents and the mechanisms of action in the epilepsy treatment.