title: Anticonvulsant and antioxidative activity of hydroalcoholic extract of tuber of Orchis mascula in pentylenetetrazole and maximal electroshock induced seizures in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orchis mascula tuber is used in many polyherbal formulations as a nerve tonic in India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, effect of hydroalcholic extract of O. mascula (HEOM) tuber was evaluated against seizures, seizure-induced oxidative stress and cognitive deficit in pentylenetetrazole and maximal electroshock-induced seizures in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  HEOM was administered orally 30 min before induction of seizures by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ; 60 mg/kg, i.p) or maximal electroshock (MES; 70 mA). Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance tests were used to assess the learning and memory. Oxidative stress was studied by estimation of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation. Whole brain total cholinesterase activity was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HEOM produced 33.3%, 50% and 66.7% protection in PTZ model and 16.7%, 16.7% and 33.3% at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively, in MES-induced seizures. Pre-treatment with HEOM significantly decreased the retention transfer latency in elevated plus maze test, and an increase in the retention latency in passive avoidance test was observed. Oxidative stress induced by seizures was also attenuated as indicated by significant increase in GSH and decrease in MDA levels in HEOM treated groups. PTZ and MES caused a significant decrease in AChE and BChE activities, which was prevented by HEOM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HEOM thus showed protection against seizures, prevented the associated memory impairment probably by modulating cholinergic status and reducing oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahuja
authors.forename: Jogender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehla
authors.forename: Yogendra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumar Gupta
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D004597:Electroshock; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D029595:Orchidaceae; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D005978:Glutathione; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole