insight into the possible anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of pongamia pinnata leaves in mice

Ethanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata leaves was investigated for possible anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazol [PTZ] and Maximum Electroshock [MES] - induced seizures in mice. Effect of the extract on spontaneous locomotor activity was assessed using Actophotometer. Any possible change in brain GABA content was also determined, in a trial, to correlate such change with the anticonvulsant activity. In PTZ-induced seizures, the extract delayed the onset of convulsions dose-dependently. The highest dose elicited complete protection against tonic hind leg extension together with remarkable reduction in mortality. In MES-induced convulsions, the extract produced significant increase in the current required to produce tonic hind leg extension. In Actophotometer the extract produced significant decrease in spontaneous locomotion compared with the control group. Brain GABA content was increased significantly by the extract in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, Investigation of ethanolic extract of P. pinnata leaves showed significant anticonvulsant activity comparable with the reference drug diazepam and such activity was accompanied with reduction in the locomotion and increase in brain GABA concentration

Antioxidant and hepatorprotective activity of cordia macleodii leaves

This Investigation was undertaken to evaluate ethanolic extract of C.macleodii leaves for possible antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by four established, in vitro methods viz. 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging method, nitric oxide [NO] radical scavenging method, iron chelation method and reducing power method. The extract demonstrated a significant dose dependent antioxidant activity comparable with ascorbic acid. The extract was also evaluated for hepatoprotective activity by carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] induced liver damage model in rats. CCl[4] produced a significant increase in levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT], serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and total bilirubin. Pretreatment of the rats with ethanolic extract of c. macleodii [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg po] inhibited the increase in levels of GPT, GOT, ALP and Total bilirubin and the inhibition was comparable with Silymarin [100mg/kg po]. The present study revealed that C. macleodii leaves have significant radical scavenging and hepatoprotective activities