Anticonvulsant and Neuroprotective Effects of Aqueous Extract of Emilia sonchifolia in PTZ and MES Seizure Models

Epilepsy is a major neurological condition and the large percentage of patients report drug-resistant seizures, as well as side effects of the traditional antiepileptic medications. There is a possibility of alternative therapeutic options that have the potential to substitute current treatments and have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in medicinal plants. This study evaluated the anticonvulsant and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of Emilia sonchifolia (AEES) using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models. A total of 48 experimental animals (Wistar rat and Swiss mouse) were separated into four groups (n = 6) and treated with distilled water (control), AEES (200 and 400 mg/kg respectively), diazepam (5mg/kg). MES was applied to induce electrical and PTZ (70 mg/kg) was applied to induce chemical seizures. The onset, duration and hindlimb tonic extension (HLTE) and mortality were noted. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were tested on brain homogenates. One-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post hoc test (p < 0.05) was used as the statistical test. AEES significantly delayed seizure onset, reduced seizure duration and decreased mortality in the PTZ model in a dose-dependent manner. AEES significantly decreased HLTE period in the course of the observations in the MES model. The use of AEES significantly increased SOD, CAT and GPx activity and decreased the level of MDA relative to controls. the protective and antioxidant effects of 400 mg/kg dose was found to be more protective and similar to diazepam in a variety of parameters.