title: Effect of Withania somnifera Dunal root extract against pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold in mice: possible involvement of GABAergic system.
abstract: Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) is a widely used herb in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of W. somnifera root extract (Ws) alone or in combination with exogenous gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a GABA receptor agonist or with diazepam, a GABA receptor modulator against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, iv) seizure threshold in mice. Minimal dose of PTZ (iv, mg/kg) needed to induce different phases (myoclonic jerks, generalized clonus and tonic extension) of convulsions were recorded as an index of seizure threshold. Ws (100 or 200 mg/kg, po) increased the PTZ seizure threshold for the onset of tonic extension phase whereas a lower dose (50 mg/kg, po) did not show any effect on the seizure threshold. Co-administration of a sub-effective dose of Ws (50 mg/kg, po) with a sub-protective dose of either GABA (25 mg/kg, ip) or diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, ip) increased the seizure threshold. The results suggested that the anticonvulsant effect of W. somnifera against PTZ seizure threshold paradigm involved the GABAAergic modulation.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India. skpu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Kiran Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Akula
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D032341:Withania
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A