Anticonvulsant and Anxiolytic Properties of the Roots of <i>Grewia bicolor</i> in Rats

Abstract

Background: Grewia bicolor (G. bicolor) root is used in traditional medicine in Sudan to treat diseases of the nervous system such as anxiety and epilepsy and also to tranquilize agitated patients.
Objectives: To explore the anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities of this medicinal plant in rats.
Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extract of the root of G. bicolourat (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, i.p was studied for its anticonvulsant effect on four in vivo rat models (Maximal Electroshock Seizure (MES), Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-, picrotoxin (PIC)- and Strychnine (STR) - induced seizures). Simple activity meter was used for the evaluation of the anxiolytic properties. Sodium valproate (400 mg kg) was used as a reference anticonvulsant drug for all models. The protection from tonic convulsions and the number of protected animals from seizures were noted. The numbers of movements between the squares in the activity meter were counted in the consecutive 5 minutes and the motor activity was observed.
Results: G. bicolourroot extract showed marked anxiolytic effect and significant decrease in the motor activity (p< 0.05) since the first dose (200mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. The doses (400-800 mg/kg) of the extract significantly (p < 0.01 - p < 0.001) reduced the duration of seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) and delayed the onset of tonic-clonic seizures produced by strychnine, whereas, all the tested doses significantly protected the animals (up to 100%) from pentylenetetrazole- and picrotoxin- induced seizures.
Conclusion: G. bicolourroot seemed to possess anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effect in rats.

Keywords: Anxiety, Epilepsy, Extract, G. bicolour, Seizures, Traditional medicine.