Casimiroa edulis seed extracts show anticonvulsive properties in rats

A single dose of 5, 10 and 100 mg/kg of Casimiroa edulis aqueous extract (AQ); 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg of C. edulis ethanolic extract (E-OH); in addition, 10, 30 and 12 mg/kg of propyleneglycol (Pg), phenytoin (Phen) and phenobarbital (Phb) was orally given to adult male Wistar rat groups. Thereafter, all groups were assayed for protection against maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (METsc) seizure inducing tests at hourly intervals throughout 8 h. For MES, a maximal protection of 70% at the 2nd and 4th h with 10 mg/kg AQ and 100 mg/kg E-OH doses, occurred. That of Phen, Phb and Pg was 80, 90 and 10% at the 8th, 6th and 2nd h, respectively. The averaged values of the MES unprotected rats under 10 and 100 mg/kg of AQ and E-OH extracts, showed that a shortened reflex duration as well as a delayed latency and uprising times occurred. On the other hand, just an enlarged latency and no protection against METsc device in AQ and EOH was observed. Phen and Phb maximal protection was 80 and 100% at the 4th and 6th hour against METsc. Thus, AQ is tenfold more potent anticonvulsive extract than E-OH against MES. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.