ABSTRACT
Phoenix dactylifera contains some phytochemical constituents which have been reported to be associated with different pharmacological activities. Triterpenes and steroids, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside among other phytochemicals have been reported to possess anticonvulsant activity. This study therefore is aimed at evaluating the anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruits using Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), Maximum electroshock test (MEST), Strychnine, Picrotoxin, 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) and Isoniazid (INH)-induced seizure. The acute toxicity study carried out on the aqueous extract revealed that the LD50 is above 5000 mg/kg i.e the extract is practically non-toxic. In each model of seizure, the animals were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 was administered Normal Saline (10 ml/kg, p.o), groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered graded doses of the aqueous extract 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg (p.o) one hour before seizure induction while group 5 was treated with the respective standard antiepileptic drug (i.p) thirty minute before induction of seizure. In MEST model, the extract exhibited a significant (p<0.05) decrease in recovery time from seizure at all the tested doses. In the Strychnine (2 mg/kg, i.m) seizure test, the extract significantly (p<0.05) delayed the onset of hind limb tonic extensor jerks which was dose-dependent. Aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera at the tested doses did not exhibit any form of delay or protection against seizure and mortality in Pentylenetetrazole (90mg/kg, s.c), 4-AP (13.3 mg/kg, s.c), picrotoxin (3.5 mg/kg, i.p) and INH (300 mg/kg, s.c)-induced seizures. It can therefore be concluded that the aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera posseses constituents which may be beneficial in the management of generalized tonic- clonic seizure and is possibly mediated via the augmentation of inhibitory neurotransmitters, possibly glycinergic system.