Anticonvulsant activity of solasodine isolated from Solanum sisymbriifolium fruits in rodents.
BACKGROUND
Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae), commonly known as sticky nightshade, is traditionally used for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Although solasodine has been isolated from this plant, little is known about its anticonvulsant and CNS depressant actions.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated anticonvulsant and CNS depressant effects of solasodine isolated from S. sisymbriifolium using several experimental models.


METHODS
Swiss albino mice (n=6) were employed for pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin (PCT)-induced convulsions and thiopental-induced sleep time. Different groups of Wistar albino rats (n=6) were subjected to maximal electroshock (MES) test. Solasodine, a steroidal glycoalkaloid, was isolated from dried fruits of S. sisymbriifolium and identified by GC-MS.


RESULTS
The results showed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of solasodine (25 mg/kg) significantly delayed (p < 0.01) latency of hind limb tonic extensor (HLTE) phase in the PCT-induced convulsions. In the MES model, solasodine significantly reduced (p < 0.001) duration of HLTE at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p. in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, solasodine did not produce any significant reduction in PTZ-induced convulsions. Prior treatment of solasodine (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly potentiated thiopental-provoked sleep in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study, for the first time, shows potent anticonvulsant and CNS depressant activities of solasodine. It is likely that solasodine, in part, is responsible for the anticonvulsant and sedative properties of S. sisymbriifolium. The future study should focus on the exact mechanism of action of solasodine.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Kinjal
K
Chauhan
Navin
N
Sheth
Vishavas
V
Ranpariya
Sachin
S
Parmar
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032322:Solanum / Q000737:chemistry*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids; C012037:solasodine