Evaluation of Anti-Epileptic Properties of Ashwagandha and Chamomile by PTZ-Induced Mouse Model

Abstract

Ayurvedic treatments are used in various types of neurological disorders. One of the common neurological disorders is Epilepsy. Withania somnifera and Matricaria recutita are well known for their medicinal properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiepileptic properties. There are also studies examining the properties of Withania somnifera and Matricaria recutita. This study aims to prove the antiepileptic properties of Withania somnifera and Matricaria recutita extracts by testing them on epilepsy-induced Swizz albino mice. Five groups of male Swizz albino mice of 40±5g of weight, each consisting of 5 mice. The drugs were administered at a dose level of 100 mg/kg b.wt each for a week. The inducing method was used to induce epilepsy. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) is injected, which acts as a GABA-A receptor antagonist. It stimulates the nerves and causes seizures. The first group acted as a control, the second group as a reference control, with Diazepam, and the remaining groups were dosed with the herbal compound orally before PTZ injection (120 mg/kg b.wt). The evaluation of the latency period and the seizure period was done. The results were obtained and analyzed with ANOVA. Chamomile and Diazepam showed longer latency periods of 102±42.64 s and 103.5±20.50 s, respectively. In the seizure period, the combination group showed good results, having fewer jerks in the clonic period, less than 10 s of the tonic period, and less than 8 s recovery. This showed the anti-epilepsy activity of the herbal extracts of Withania somnifera and Matricaria recutita.