Anticonvulsant activity of phyllanthus amarus in experimental animal models.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate anticonvulsant effect of Phyllanthus amarus on maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures. Methods: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of P. amarus (70 mg/kg, p.o) were studied for their anticonvulsant effect on MES and PTZ induced seizures in Swiss albino rats. The latency of tonic convulsions and the number of animals protected from tonic convulsions were noted. Results: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of P. amarus (70 mg/kg, p.o) significantly (p<0.001) abolished the hind limb extension induced by MES. The same dose also significantly (p<0.001) protected the animals from PTZ induced tonic convulsions. Conclusions: The data suggests that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. amarus may produce its anticonvulsant effects via non-specific mechanisms since it abolished the hind limb extension induced by MES as well as delayed the latency of seizures produced by PTZ.