Anticonvulsant effect of Asparagus africanus Lam. root decoction on pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in white mice (Mus musculus Swiss)
1 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon
2 Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 08(02), 296-306
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2020.8.2.0431
Publication history:
Received on 18 November 2020; revised on 26 November 2020; accepted on 28 November 2020
Abstract:
Asparagus africanus Lam. (Asparagaceae) is a widely used plant in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, for the treatment of nervous disorders and epilepsy. The objective of this work was to study the anticonvulsant effects of A. africanus root decoction in white mice (Mus musculus Swiss) induced by pilocarpine. The experimental induction of "status epilepticus" and the evaluation of the anticonvulsant effects of A. africanus root decoction on pilocarpine-induced clonic and tonic convulsions were carried out. Seizure severity, latency, duration and number of clonics and tonics convulsions were evaluated. Concentrations of GABA, GABA-T, TNF-α and stress markers in the brains of mice were also estimated. A. africanus decreased the duration and number of clonic and tonic convulsions which increased the latency time of onset of clonic and tonic convulsions significantly and in a dose-dependent manner. GABA increased significantly in the brains of animals treated with A. africanus and a significant decrease of GABA-T and TNF-α. A. africanus also showed antioxidant effects. These results show that A. africanus has anticonvulsant effects. A. africanus would thus contain beneficial antiradical constituents in the treatment of epilepsy. These constituents would thus oppose free radicals. These results would justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine in the treatment of epilepsy.
Keywords:
Asparagus africanus; Pilocarpine; Antioxidants; Anticonvulsants; Mouse.
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