In vitro and In vivo Anticonvulsant Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Moringa stenopetala in Mice Models

Background: Epilepsy is a debilitating neurological disorder that directly affects approximately 65 million people worldwide. In the search of safe and effective antiepileptics traditional treatment practices are one area of research to obtain novel molecules. Moringa stenopetala root is claimed to be used for epilepsy treatment in Konso area, Southern Ethiopia. But there was no scientific research evidence for the claimed use of the plant.

Objective: This study was conducted to explore the anticonvulsant activity of hydro-alcoholic (80% methanol) extract of root of Moringa stenopetala.

Methods: The dry residues of the plant extract was used for the test. In vitro 0Mg2+ mice model at dose 0.7 mg/kg of extract, diazepam(3μM) and untreated brain slice groups were used to compare the presence of seizure like event (SLE). In vivo pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) model with 85 mg/kg subcutaneously was used to compare the seizure on set time with two extract doses and diazepam 5 mg/kg. The data was presented with mean± standard error. In maximum electric shock (MES) model 54 mA was passed for 0.2 second transauricularly in mice. The mean time of hind limb extension was recorded for doses 400 mg/kg and 800mg/kg of the extract and 10 mg/kg phenytoin. The means were compared for statistical significance using one way ANOVA post hoc LSD whereas proportions were compared using Fishers exact test with P-value < .05.

Results: M. stenopetala extract has shown statistically significant anticonvulsant activity in vitro compared to control (P<.05). A positive control, the known anticonvulsant diazepam (3μM), showed significant anticonvulsant activity (P<.05). In vivo MES model showed statistically significant anti-seizure activity at both doses (P<.05). But the crude extract failed to show statistically significant activity at all doses of PTZ model (P>.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that crude extract of Moringa stenopetala exhibited anti-convulsant effect both in vitro and in vivo MES models.