ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF AEGLE MARMELOS LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACT USING MAXIMAL ELECTROSHOCK INDUCED SEIZURE MODEL IN MICE

Many patients with epilepsy fail to experience adequate control of their seizures, despite the optimal use of available anti-epileptic drugs marketed; other patients do so only at the expense of significant toxic side effects. Leaves of Aegle marmelos is used for anticonvulsant activities in Ayurvedic medicine. In this study we have screened antiepileptic activity of the aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos leaf in Maximal electroshock seizure model in mice. Animals were divided into four groups, administered with aqueous extract (300 mg/kg, 600mg/k, 900mg/kg), Phenytoin (25 mg/kg, as positive control), saline (10 ml/kg, as control). The limit test for acute toxicity at 2000mg/kg/orally didn’t show any mortality or severe adverse events within the 48 hrs of observation period. The phytochemical analysis of aqueous extract of leaves of A. marmelos reveal a high content of Steroids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Alkaloids. Aqueous extract produced dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect against Hind limb tonic extensor phase (HLTE) of Maximal electroshock (MES) model in Mice compared with control. Duration of HLTE phase among different treatment groups was recorded. A dose dependant reduction in duration of HLTE was observed compared to control group [significant (P