EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-CONVULSANT EFFECT OF Pennisetum glaucum SUPPLEMENT IN SOME LABORATORY ANIMALS

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Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
Pennisetum glaucum has been pharmacologically studied for various activities like antidiabetic, anti-microbial and anti-tumor activities. The present study was aimed at investigating the anti-convulsant effect of Pennisetum glaucum supplement in some laboratory animals. Quantitative phytochemical and proximate tests were carried on Pennisetum glaucum using standard laboratory techniques. In PTZ-induced seizures in mice, 20 swill albino mice were group into 4 negative control which received normal saline, 25% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group, 50% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group and diazepam (2 mg/kg) treated group. All the 4 groups received their respective interventions for 14 day. Thirty minutes after the 14th administration freshly prepared PTZ (85 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to all the mice and observed for seizure onset, seizure duration, percentage seizure protection and percentage mortality protection for 30 minute post PTZ injection. Induction of PTZ kindling seizures in wistar rats involves the grouping of 20 rats into 4 (normal saline, 25% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group, 50% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group and 200 mg/kg valporic treated group) with each group receiving PTZ (35 mg/kg) on every alternate day for 30 days. Thirty minutes after each PTZ injection rats were observed for the presence/absence of seizures and seizure severity which were evaluated using Racine scale. In Maximal electroshock study, 40 chicks were equally grouped into 4: negative control, 25% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group, 50% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental group and phenytoin (20 mg/kg) treated group. Maximal electroshock seizures in chicks was induced by applying an electrical stimulus 30 minutes after grouping and administration which was maintained at a frequency of 100pulse/sec, current 80 mA, pulse width 0.6ms for a duration of 0.8 sec using ugo basile convulsiometer with corneal electrodes placed on the upper eyelids of the chicks. Seizure duration, recovery from seizure, seizure protection and mortality protection were the parameters recorded. The results of the study showed a high presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phytate with the least of alkaloids. Also, a high carbohydrates, protein, moisture, fibre, lipids with the least of ash, Magnesium and Phosphorus were revealed. Pennisetum glaucum at 50% supplement offered 40% protection from death and significantly (p≤0.05) decrease the duration of seizure (41.20 ± 3.34 vs 137.00 ± 13.13 seconds) whereas diazepam a standard anticonvulsant proved more effective in delaying seizure onset (182.00±10.00 vs 72.80 ± 1.32 seconds), offering 60% protection from death and decreasing seizure duration (72.20±19.98 vs 137.00 ± 13.13 seconds) in mice. The supplement was able to suppress the progression of seizure to most severe stages 4.4 reached by the control by retarding seizure severity to only stage 3.8 and 2.5 at 25% and 50% Pennisetum glaucum supplemental groups respectively in wistar rats. The supplement also, offered 40% vs 20% protection from seizure when compared to the control. However, phenytoin a standard anticonvulsant offered 100% seizure protection in chicks. The present study demonstrates that oral administration of Pennisetum glaucum supplement for 14 days, 30 days and 1 day caused anticonvulsant effect against subcutaneous PTZ-induced seizures in swiss albino mice, intraperitoneal PTZ-induce kindling in wistar rats and MES-induced seizures in chicks respectively. However, the efficacy of the anticonvulsant activity offered by Pennisetum glaucum supplement at both doses were less when compared to standard antiepileptic drugs used.