Pharmacological evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of root extract of Saussurea lappa in mice

Aim of the study: Roots of Saussurea lappa are traditionally used in the ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. Inclusion of S. lappa in various herbal preparations suggests its potential for treatment of epilepsy patients; however, there is paucity of scientific data to support the ethnobotanical claim. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of various extracts of roots of S. lappa Clarke in mice. Materials and methods: Anticonvulsant activity of S. lappa petroleum ether extract (SLP), alcoholic extract (SLA), and water extract (SLW) was evaluated against pentylenetetrazole and picrotoxin-induced convulsions, and maximal electroshock (MES) test in mice. Results: The pharmacological screening reveals that the SLP (100 mg/kg i.p.) and SLA (300 mg/kg i.p.) significantly increased latency to clonic convulsions and reduced mortality in pentylenetetrazole and picrotoxin treated mice. SLW (300 mg/kg i.p.) significantly increased latency to clonic convulsions, reduced convulsion episodes and mortality. SLP (100 and 300 mg/kg i.p.), SLA (100 and 1000 mg/kg i.p.) and SLW (100 and 1000 mg/kg i.p.) reduced mortality of mice in electroshock experiment. Conclusion: Petroleum ether extract of S. lappa roots possesses promising anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazole and picrotoxin-induced convulsions in mice, by elevating the seizure threshold through GABAergic the mechanism. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.