Hydroethanolic leaf extract of Ficus religiosa lacks anticonvulsant activity in acute electro and chemo convulsion mice models

Abstract

Introduction: Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) has been of great medicinal value in
traditional medicine and implicated in a wide variety of human and animal disorders.
Its leaves have been used for the ethnomedical treatment of epilepsy. But its traditional
antiepileptic use is not fully understood experimentally. Hence the present study
was undertaken to explore the anticonvulsant effect of the leaves in experimental
animal models of convulsion. Materials and Methods: The anticonvulsant effect
of hydroethanolic leaf extract of F. religiosa was studied at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg;
intraperitoneally (i.p.) in maximal electroshock (MES), and at 100, 250, 500 and 600
mg/kg; i.p. doses in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) test in mice. The duration of tonic hind
limb extension(s) and latency to clonic convulsions (min) was noted in MES and PTZ
tests, respectively. Phenytoin (25 mg/kg; i.p.) and diazepam (5 mg/kg; i.p.) served as
reference standards in MES and PTZ tests, respectively. Percentage mortality was also
noted. Results: There was no significant change observed after the extract treatment on
the duration of tonic hind limb extension in MES test, and latency to clonic convulsions
in PTZ test, as compared to their respective controls. Moreover, percentage mortality
remained unaltered after the extract treatment. Conclusions: From the results of present
study it is concluded that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of F. religiosa lacks anticonvulsant
activity in MES- and PTZ-induced convulsion tests. Further studies are required from
other regions and using different animal models to support these findings.