Anticonvulsant and toxicity effects of ethanolic extract of Thevetia Peruviana (Pers.) leaves

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurologic condition due to disordered firing of brain neurons characterised by seizures. Most currently available antiepileptic drugs are synthetic and do not offer a complete cure yet with devastating side effects. Studies have shown that extracts from certain plants can produce anticonvulsant effects and may, therefore be useful against epileptic seizures. To investigate anticonvulsant effect of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Thevetia peruviana on chemically induced seizures in Wister rats. Leaves of T. peruviana were pulverised and extracted with ethanol. Graded doses of the ethanolic extract were used to test for the anticonvulsant effect of the extract using pentylenetetrazole model of seizures in rats. Acute toxicity testing and phytochemical analysis were done using Lorke’s method. Graded doses of T. peruviana leaf extract significantly delayed onset of seizures. They protected animals from death due to pentylenetetrazole-induced tonic seizures. There was no death up to 3000mg/kg. The extract was found to be rich in essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloid, phenols, proteins and resins. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of T. peruviana contains compounds with anticonvulsant effects since it protected the animals from death and delayed the onset of seizures produced by pentylenetetrazole and that is relatively safe.