title: Ameliorative effect of Asparagus racemosus root extract against pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling and associated depression and memory deficit.
abstract: Asparagus racemosus (A. racemosus) roots are extensively used in traditional medicine for the management of epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of A. racemosus root extract (ARE) against pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling and associated depression and memory deficit. Kindling was successfully induced by repeated administration of a subconvulsant dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg; i.p.) at an interval of 48 ± 2 h in 43 days (21 injections). Pretreatment with valproate (300 mg/kg; i.p.), a major antiepileptic drug as well as ARE significantly suppressed the progression of kindling. Moreover, ARE also ameliorated the kindling-associated depression and memory deficit as indicated by decreased immobility time and increased step-down latency, respectively, as compared to vehicle control animals. Further, these behavioral observations were complemented with analogous neurochemical changes. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that ARE treatment has an ameliorative effect against PTZ-induced kindling and associated behavioral comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pahwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India. Electronic address: goelrkpup@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027761:Asparagus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole
keywords: Antiepileptogenic; Asparagus racemosus; Comorbidity; Kindling development