title: Dual protective effect of Passiflora incarnata in epilepsy and associated post-ictal depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Passiflora incarnata L. (Passifloraceae) has been used for the treatment of epilepsy in several traditional systems of medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aerial parts of Passiflora incarnata contain multiple bioactive metabolites such as, flavonoids (like, chrysin that show CNS depressant activity by agonizing GABA-benzodiazepine receptor), amino acids (like, GABA), harmala alkaloids (reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor), etc. In view of this, the present study was designed to investigate dual protective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure and associated post-ictal depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different groups of mice were administered with repeated subconvulsive doses of PTZ (50mg/kg; i.p.) at an interval of 5 days for 15 days. From 5th to 15th day the animals in different groups were administered daily with varying doses of hydroethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata (150, 300, and 600mg/kg; i.p.), diazepam (2mg/kg; i.p.) and vehicle. On every 5th day, after PTZ treatment, seizure severity (score) was noted. Following convulsive episodes the locomotor activity (using actophotometer) and immobility period (using forced swim test) were also determined. On 15th day after behavioral assessment, the brain serotonin and noradrenaline levels were determined using spectrofluorometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with the extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced the seizure severity and immobility period as compared to vehicle control, in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, the extract treatment retained the serotonin and noradrenaline levels of the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of present study concluded that the hydroethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata suppress PTZ-induced seizures, and ameliorates its associated post-ictal depression, which has been found to be get worsened with the standard antiepileptic drug, diazepam.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, Punjab, India.
authors: Bhupinder
authors: B
authors: Singh
authors: Damanpreet
authors: D
authors: Singh
authors: Rajesh Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Goel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003292:Convulsants; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D029598:Passiflora; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003292:Convulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012701:Serotonin; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D009638:Norepinephrine