ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is a chronic disease condition in humans involving seizures. It has been estimated that a major population of people worldwide live with epilepsy, and a higher percentage of the disease is found in low-income and lower middle-income countries of the world. The side effects, chronic toxicity, severe drug interactions and adverse effects on cognition and behavior of synthetic drugs still bring about the need for safer and more effective treatment for this unpleasant disorder. The present study was to investigate the antiepileptic effect and biosafety of methanol seed (MeSEMO), stem bark (MeStBEMO) and formulated (MeFEMO) extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. on animal models.
Adult mice (25 – 35g), divided into eleven groups of five each, represented by control (distilled water, DW), 0.5 mg/kg Phenobarbitone, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg MeSEMO, MeStBEMO and MeFEMOrespectively were used for antiepileptic activities study. Wistar rats divided into ten groups of six each, represented by control (DW), 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of MeSEMO, MeStBEMO and MeFEMO also had their weights (mean weight range = 150 – 200 g) measured and were used for biosafety study. Treatment was administered to the groups prior to inducement with epilepsy using graded doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, of MeSEMO, MeStBEMO and MeFEMO as well as 0.5 mg/kg of Phenobarbitone. Epilepsy was induced by passing a current of 50 Amps for 2 sec using an electroconvulsiometer with the aid of two electrodes clipped to the pinnae of the mice and careful observation was carried out to check for inhibitory effect of the extracts. At the end of the three weeks experimental period, blood samples were collected and visceral organs harvested for haematological and histological analyses respectively. Sub-acute toxicity study was carried out on the Wistar rats for a period of twenty eight days to ascertain any toxic effect of the extracts. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected and visceral organs harvested for haematological and histological evaluations respectively.
All phytochemicals (cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponin and alkaloids) found in the extracts had neuroprotective activity. Alkaloids had the highest amount and was found in MeStBEMO and MeFEMO. MeSEMOsignificantly, P< 0.05, showed the most potent protective effect against epilepsy at concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/kg, while MeStBEMO and MeFEMOsignificantly, P< 0.05,showed the most potent effect each at 100 and 400 mg/kg. Reduction in catalase level was probably complimented by 100 and 200 mg/kg of MeSEMO, 400 mg/kg of MeStBEMO and 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of MeFEMO. Similarly, that of Gluthathione peroxidase was probably complimented by 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of MeSEMO,MeStBEMO and MeFEMO. Superoxide dismutase showed the most potency among the endogenous antioxidant used in the study, showing no significant difference, P> 0.05, in relation to the control (2.39 ± 0.02). All the doses used to determine the biosafety of MeSEMO, MeStBEMO and MeFEMO in this study made no significant alterations to the visceral organs with the exception of 200 mg/kg MeSEMO which significantly, P< 0.05 reduced lungs weight. The study showed that the extracts will be efficacious and safe as antiepileptic drug.
