Context: Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. Several antiepileptic drugs have been used over the years and these drugs have shown serious side effects, thereby prompting the use of medicinal plants to avert the resultant side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Aim: To evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice. Study Design: Experimental cohort study. Subjects and Methods: We evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice by measuring its antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro and identify possible flavonoids present via Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LC MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Statistical Analysis: One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the level of significance at a 95% confidence interval followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test using SPSS software. Result: The FRF of FPSB exhibited weak anticonvulsant activity against PTZ-induced seizure in mice. Maximum anticonvulsant activity (25% protection) was observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with a delay in the meantime of onset of myoclonic jerks and latency to tonic seizure. The effect of the fraction was found to be dose-independent. The FRF contains a flavanone Astilbin (flavonoid 3 O glycosides) which may have effectuated the high antioxidant activity against 2,2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) while increasing brain glutathione content and decrease in malondialdehyde content. Conclusion: Although the anticonvulsant capacity of FRF on PTZ-induced mice was minimal, this further requires an exploration of other seizure models to ascertain its mechanism of action.

The exploration of medicinal plants in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases has been practiced for long, globally, because of its cultural acceptability, availability, and affordability. This study investigated the qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals present in Ficus platyphylla stem bark as well as determined the reducing power and antioxidant property of each fraction against DPPH and NO radicals. The study further elucidated the presence of possible compounds in different fractions (methanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, and chloroform) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) extract using GC-MS, LC-MS, and FTIR techniques. Qualitative phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of phytochemicals: saponin, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, steroids, alkaloids, and glycoside in the ethanolic extract. The LC-MS study of methanol and ethyl acetate fractions reveals the presence of thirteen and three compounds, respectively. GC-MS analysis shows the presence of trans-13-octadecenoic acid as the main compound 38.07% and cis-vaccenic acid as the least compound (0.10%) in the petroleum ether fraction. The main compound in the chloroform fraction is 12-oleanen-3-yl acetate, (3. alpha.) with a peak area percentage of 49.25% and oleic acid been the least compound with 0.07% peak area. The FTIR analysis reveals that the fractions contain compounds with hydroxyl, aromatic, methyl, methylene, methyne, long aliphatic chain, ethers, ether-oxy, peroxides, etc. The analyzed fractions reveal compounds with potential pharmacological activity in the management of pathological conditions.