IInt J Curr Pharm Res, Vol 13, Issue 2, 67-69Original Article
ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF PORTULACA OLERACEA LINN. AND EUPATORIUM BRIMANICUM DC IN MES INDUCED SEIZURE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
MAYANGLAMBAM MEDHABATI1, LAISHRAM BABYCHA2, ABHISHEK BHATTACHARJEE3, NGANGOM GUNINDRO4
1,3,4Department of Pharmacology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, India, 2Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, India
Email: babhishek637@gmail.com
Received: 08 Nov 2020, Revised and Accepted: 10 Jan 2021
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate and compare the anticonvulsant activity of aqueous leave extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC in MES model in albino mice.
Methods: Aqueous Extracts were prepared by the soxhlet extraction method. MES model was chosen to evaluate anticonvulsant activity. 36 albino mice were selected and divided into 6 groups for this model. Group I received 2% gum acacia 1 ml/100 g orally. Group II received phenytoin-20 mg/kg orally. Group III and IV received 200 and 400 mg/kg of Portulaca oleracea Linn. Respectively. Group V and VI received 200 and 400 mg/kg of Eupatorium brimanicum DC respectively.
Results: The extracts didn’t show any toxicity and significantly reduced hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) duration in MES model (50 mA, 0.2 sec) at higher doses.
Conclusion: The results suggest Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC extract possess anticonvulsant activity and justify their use in folk medicine.
Keywords: MES, Anticonvulsant, Portulaca oleracea Linn., Eupatorium brimanicum DC, Albino mice
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2021v13i2.41561. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijcpr
INTRODUCTION
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders which significantly affects the quality of life. It affects 70 million people in the world [1]. Epilepsy refers to a disorder of brain function characterized by the periodic and unpredictable occurrence of seizures. The underlying abnormality of epilepsy is poorly understood, but it may be associated with an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain [2]. The pathologies leading to epilepsy can occur anywhere in the circuit level in brain e. g. from abnormal synaptic connectivity to the receptor level, abnormality of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunits and/or ion channel dysfunction [3]. Antiepileptic drug therapy is the mainstay of treatment for most of patients of epilepsy. The overall goal is to completely prevent seizure without causing any untoward side effects. Unfortunately, the drugs used currently not only fail to control seizure activity in approximately 30% of patients but frequently cause untoward effects like impairment of the CNS, aplastic anaemia, hepatic failure, etc [4, 5]. In order to overcome such drawbacks, there is a substantial need to develop novel antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with more efficacy and safety. Moreover, herbal medicines are extensively used globally since ancient times due to their therapeutic efficiency and minimal side effects in nervous system. In recent years, several investigations for the search of novel and better tolerated antiepileptic drugs have progressed with promising results. Many plants are known to possess anticonvulsant property and are commonly used in traditional folklore. However, there is paucity of the anticonvulsant studies of the medicinal plants like Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC in animal models [6, 7]. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of these two medicinal plants in Maximal electroshock (MES) model of epilepsy in albino mice.
Materials and methodS
The study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, after getting approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (No.1596/GO/a/12/CPCSEA).
Requirements
Albino mice, polypropylene cages, gavage feeding tube, electro-convulsiometer, ear clip electrodes, stopwatch, gum acacia, phenytoin Sodium (Knoll pharma, India), soxhlet apparatus, mixer grinder, evaporating dish, weighing machine, mortar and pestle.
Preparation of the extract
Fresh aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium Brimanicum DC were collected from the Imphal, Manipur, identified and authenticated by Prof. P. K. Singh, Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University. The plant parts were cleansed, dried under shade. The leaves were separated and powdered by a mixer grinder. The powdered materials of these two plants were extracted separately with distilled water using a Soxhlet apparatus [8]. The extracts were evaporated, scraped out and stored in airtight container. The yields obtained were 35.2% and 37.13% for Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC respectively.
Phytochemical screening
The preliminary phytochemical studies of the extracts were done following standard procedures [9, 10]
Animals
Healthy albino mice of either sex weighing 25-30 g were procured from the central animal house of the institute. They were housed in standard polypropylene cages and acclimatized to the laboratory conditions for 7 d at room temperature with 12 hr light and dark cycle. The mice were given a standard laboratory diet and water ad libitum. Food was withdrawn 8 hr before and during experiments.
Acute toxicity study
Acute toxicity testing was carried out as per OECD guidelines 423 in albino mice [11]. Three animals were used for each step. The aqueous extracts of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC were administered to the fasted mice at a dose of 300 mg/kg (p. o.) and observed once in every 30 min during the first 24 h and thereafter, daily for 14 d. As there was no mortality, the procedure was repeated with a higher dose of 2000 mg/kg, and the animals were observed for mortality and toxic symptoms. At the dose of 2000 mg/kg p. o. of the plant extracts, no mortality or toxic symptoms were detected in the tested animals and the dose was considered safe. Two doses of 200 mg/kg (1/10th of the maximum test dose) and 400 mg/kg (1/5th of the maximum test dose) of the plant extracts were selected as working doses for the experiment.
Assessment of anticonvulsant effect
Selection of animals
Electroconvulsiometer (Techno Electronics, Lucknow) was used for seizure induction. The mice showing hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) at a current of 50 mA for 0.2 sec via a pair of ear clip electrodes were selected. HLTE was defined by an extension of hind limb more than 90° from the body and sustained for more than 3 seconds [12]. A recovery period of 5 d was given before the main test.
Procedure
The animals were divided into 6 (six) groups. Each group consisted of 6 (six) animals. The drug treatment schedule of the different groups was demonstrated in table 1.
The mice were subjected to an electrical stimulus of 50 mA of alternating current from the electroconvulsiometer for 0.2 sec via ear clip electrodes 1h after drug administration. The resulting seizure passed through different phases-tonic flexion, tonic extension, clonic convulsions, stupor, and recovery or death [13]. The HLTE phase was recorded and assessed. The reduction or complete of abolition of HLTE phase was considered as protection against convulsion [14].
Table 1: Allotment of animals to different groups and their treatment
| Group | Treatment |
| I (Control) | 2% Gum acacia, p. o. |
| II (Standard) | Phenytoin Sodium 20 mg/kg, p. o. dissolved in 2% Gum acacia |
| III | 200 mg/kg of Portulaca oleracea, p. o. dissolved in2% Gum acacia |
| IV | 400 mg/kg of Portulaca oleracea, p. o, dissolved in 2% Gum acacia |
| V | 200 mg/kg of Eupatorium brimanicum, p. o, dissolved in 2% Gum acacia |
| VI | 400 mg/kg of Eupatorium brimanicum, p. o, dissolved in 2% Gum acacia |
Standard drug and the plant extracts were suspended in 2% gum acacia in DW and administered at the dose of 1 ml/100g orally.
Table 2: Effects of aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC on MES induced seizure in mice
| Treatment group | Duration of HLTE(Sec) |
I. Control-2% gum acacia in DW II. (Standard) Phenytoin Sodium 20 mg/kg III. 200 mg/kg of Portulaca oleracea IV. 400 mg/kg of Portulaca oleracea V. 200 mg/kg of Eupatorium brimanicum VI. 400 mg/kg of Eupatorium brimanicum |
15.52±0.37 --------------- 13.50±0.37 10.92±0.91⁎† 13.23±0.22 10.22±0.32⁎†‡ |
| One way ANOVA | |
F df p |
16.06 4 <0.001 |
n=6 in each group, values are mean±SEM, * p<0.001, compared to control, † p<0.05 compared to group III, ‡ p<0.05 compared to group V.
Statistical analysis
The results were analyzed for statistical significance using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test. P<0.05 was considered significant. IBM SPSS statistics version 21 was used for data analysis.
ResultS
Phytochemical screening
The qualitative phytochemical analysis of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins.
Anti-convulsant effects of aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC on MES induced seizure in mice are shown in table 2.
Discussion
Research into epilepsy and development of anti-epileptic drugs relies on studies in experimental animals. Mice are commonly used rodents because of smaller size, ease of housing and maintenance. Interestingly, the genetic, biological, and behavioural characteristics of the rodents closely resemble to those of humans [15]. Maximal electroshock (MES) seizure is the mainstay of any antiepileptic drug screening. In this present study, the anticonvulsant activity of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC were evaluated by maximal electroshock seizure (MES) in albino mice. The MES is probably the best-validated method for the assessment of anti-epileptic drugs in generalized tonic-clonic seizure [16]. Efficacy in this model was determined by decreased in duration of hind limb tonic extension (HLTE). MES causes several changes at cellular level, which can disrupt the signal transduction in the neurons. One of the most important mechanism by which it causes cellular damage is facilitation of ca2+entry into the cell in large amount and thus, prolonging the duration of convulsion [17]. Apart from ca2+ions MES also facilitates the entry of Na+ion. Blockade of these ions can prevent the MES-induced tonic extension [18]. The aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC were found to possess significant anti-convulsant activity in albino mice at the dose of 400 mg/kg, p. o against MES induced seizure. However, the extract of Eupatorium brimanicum revealed maximum anticonvulsant potential. Mice treated with phenytoin 20 mg/kg didn’t exhibit any HLTE for which the possible anticonvulsant mechanism is inhibition of voltage-sensitive Na+channels in the neurons.
The preliminary phytochemical analysis of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and tannins. Several reports suggest that flavonoids and alkaloids have potent anticonvulsant activity in various seizure models [19-21]. Therefore, the presence of such compounds in both the extracts may be responsible for their anticonvulsant potential. This study provides experimental support for the traditional use of these plants for the treatment of epilepsy.
CONCLUSION
Results of the present study show that the aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC leaves (400 mg/kg) produced a significant anticonvulsant effect against MES induced seizure in mice. These observations suggest that aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. and Eupatorium brimanicum DC possibly act by modulating ion channels in CNS to exert their anticonvulsant effect. However, further research is required to elucidate its specific mechanism of action and active principles responsible for potential anticonvalsant property.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. PK Singh, Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University for his help in identification and authentication of the plants.
FUNDING
Nil
AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS
All the authors have contributed equally.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
Declared none
References
Kaur H, Kumar B, Medhi B. Antiepileptic drugs in developmentpipeline: a recent update. Neurol Sci 2016;4:42-51.
Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM, Flower RJ. editors. Rang and dale’s pharmacology. 6th ed. New Delhi: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008.
Stafstrom CE, Carmant L. Seizures and epilepsy: an overview for neuroscientists. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2015;5:1-18.
Denial HL. Seizures and epilepsies. In: Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL, Lango DL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J. editors. 17th ed. New York: Mc Graw Hill Education; 2008. p. 2498-512.
Ngugi AK, Bottomely C, Kleinschmidt L. Estimation of the burden of active and lifetime epilepsy: a meta-analytic approach. Epilepsia 2010;51:883-90.
Sinha SC. Medicinal plant of Manipur, Imphal: Manipur association for science and society; 1996.
Deb DB. Compositae (Asteraceae). The flora of Tripura state. 1st ed. Vol. 2. New Delhi: Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers; 1983.
Verma SCL, Agarwal SL. Studies on Leptadenia reticulata part II-preliminary chemical investigations. Indian J Med Res 1962;50:439-45.
Kokate CK, Purohit AP, Gokhale SB. editors. Pharmacognosy. 45th ed. Pune: Nirali Prakashan; 2009.
Shah B, Seth AK. editors. Textbook of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 2014.
OECD. OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals 423: Acute oral toxicity-Acute toxic class method. Paris; 2001. Available from: https://ntp.niehs.gov/iccvam/suppdocs/feddocs/oecd/oecd gl423.pdf. [Last accessed on 14 Sep 2018]
Castel Branco MM, Alves GL, Figueiredo IV, Falcao AC, Caramona MM. The maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model in the preclinical assessment of potential new antiepileptic drugs. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2009;31:101-6.
Kulkarni SK. Practical pharmacology and clinical pharmacy. Delhi: Vallabh Publications; 2008.
Gupta SK. Drug screening methods. 3rd ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd; 2016.
Remy M. "Why do medical researchers use mice?" Live Science. 2010. Available from: http://www.livescience.com/32860-why-do-medical-researchers-use-mice.html. [Last accessed 10 Oct 2018]
Loscher W, Fassbender CP, Nolting B. The role of technical, biological and pharmacological factors in the laboratory evaluation of anti-convulsant drugs II, maximal electroshock seizure models. Epilepsy Res 1991;8:79-94.
Inan SY, Buyukafsar K. Antiepileptic effects of two Rho-kinase inhibitors, y-27632 and fasudin in mice. Br J Pharmcol 2008;155:44-51.
Bum EN, Nkantchoua GN, Njikam N, Taiwe GS, Ngoupaye GT, Pelanken MM. Anticonvulsant and sedative activity of leaves Senna spectabilis in mice. Int J Pharmacol 2010;6:123-8.
Xu x, Yu L, Chen G. Determination of flavanoids in Portulaca oleracea L. by capillary electrophosis with electrochemical detection. J Pharm Bio-Med Anal 2006;41:493-9.
Devi LR, Singh TS, Singh LW. Antifungal and phytochemical studies of Eupatorium brimanicum DC. Indian J Chem 2017;46:1868-72.
Paramdeep S, Damanpreet S, Rajesh KG. Phytoflavonoids: antiepileptics for the future. Int J Pharm Sci 2014;6:51-66.