Anticonvulsant activity of DNS II fraction in the acute seizure models.
OBJECTIVE
Delphinium nordhagenii belongs to family Ranunculaceae, it is widely found in tropical areas of Pakistan. Other species of Delphinium are reported as anticonvulsant and are traditionally used in the treatment of epilepsy. Delphinium nordhagenii is used by local healer in Pakistan but never used for scientific investigation as anticonvulsant. Thus, Delphinium nordhagenii was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation and the most active fraction, i.e. DNS II acetone was chosen for further testing in the acute seizure models of epilepsy to study the antiepileptic potential in male mice.


METHODS
Different doses (60, 65 and 70mg/kg, i.p.) of DNS II acetone fraction of Delphinium nordhagenii was administered 30min prior the chemoconvulsant's injection in the male mice. Convulsive doses of chemoconvulsants (pentylenetetrazole 90mg/kg, s.c. and picrotoxin 3.15mg/kg, s.c.) were used. The mice were observed 45-90min for the presence of seizures. Moreover, four different doses of DNS II (60, 65, 70 and 100mg/kg, i.p.) were tested in the MES test.


RESULTS
The DNS II acetone fraction of Delphinium nordhagenii has exhibited the anticonvulsant actions by preventing the seizures against PTZ- and picrotoxin-induced seizure as well as 100% seizure protection in MES test. The results are comparable with standard AEDs (diazepam 7.5mg/kg, i.p. and phenytoin 20mg/kg, i.p.).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the Delphinium nordhagenii possesses the anticonvulsant activity. Further analysis is needed to confirm the structure and target the extended activity profile.
H.E.J. International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. liaquathej@yahoo.com
Muhammad Liaquat
ML
Raza
Mohammad
M
Zeeshan
Manzoor
M
Ahmad
Farzana
F
Shaheen
Shabana U
SU
Simjee
D000096:Acetone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031882:Delphinium / Q000737:chemistry; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010154:Pakistan; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029626:Ranunculaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D000096:Acetone; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003975:Diazepam; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010672:Phenytoin; D010852:Picrotoxin