ROLE OF CITRUS GRANDIS (L) OSBECK IN MOTOR AND SENSORY NEURONAL FUNCTIONS IN PENTYLENETETRAZOLE INDUCED EPILEPTIC RATS
Epilepsy is characterized by abnormal episodic bursts of electrical activity in nerves which may spread in the entire brain. It has been shown to affect several brain activities and promote long-term changes in multiple neural systems. There are number of drugs available for treatment of epilepsy in modern therapy. But the major drug disadvantage beings faced is their chronic side effects. The present study is aimed to investigate the antiepileptic effect of aqueous extract of Citrus grandis (L) osbeck in experimental induced epileptic animal models. Plant source selected for the present study was Citrus grandis (L) Osbeck. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out in various extracts (aqueous and ethanol) and dry powder. Healthy adult wistar strain of Albino rats, two to three months old and weighing 100g-120g were used. The rats of either sex weighing 100gm-120gm were selected and divided into six groups comprising of six rats each. The aqueous extract of Citrus grandis (L) osbeck was administered orally to Group III and IV rats. Group VI rats were administered with diazepam. After 30 min injection of Diazepam through I.P and 60 min after oral administration of the plant extract, Pentylenetetrazole (75mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. The antiepileptic activity was accessed by its ability to delay the onset of myoclonic spasms and clonic convulsions. The phytochemical analysis of the dry powder of Citrus grandis (L) osbeck revealed the presence of alkaloids, sugars, quinones, saponin, and glycosides. The physical behaviors of the animals were significantly altered in PTZ induced animals and no significant alteration was observed in Citrus grandis (L) osbeck treated rats. The level of Glutamate was found to be decreased and the level of GABA increased after the induction with PTZ and treated with aqueous extract of Citrus grandis (L) Osbeck. The present study concludes that the PTZ is a potent chemical agent that produced convulsion in the rats. It also concludes that the aqueous extract of Citrus grandis (L) Osbeck exhibited anticonvulsant and anti-seizure activities against PTZ-induced oxidative seizure in rats