Anticonvulsant Effect of Flavonoid-Rich Fraction of Ficus platyphylla Stem Bark on Pentylenetetrazole Induced Seizure in Mice

Abstract

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.

LC-MS and GC-MS Profiling of Different Fractions of Ficus platyphylla Stem Bark Ethanolic Extract

“…Te reducing power assay shows the activity of methanol fraction to reduce Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ as shown by increase in absorbance of the reaction mixture in proportion to increase in concentration. Te high total favonoid and total phenolic content of methanol fraction is evident that the fraction contained hydroxyl groups that confers sufcient antioxidant activity against DPPH and NO radicals which is in accordance to the report made by Hassan et al [24].…”

In vitro Investigation and GC-MS Analysis of the Chemical Constituents in the Fraction of Hexane Leaf Extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. and K. Krause) Loranthaceae

“…This is because polyphenols are excellent sources of antioxidants against various pathological disorders, including hyperglycemic problem. As earlier stated, our finding revealed that our plant is more of α-amylase inhibitor than α-glucosidase, which had also been reported 29 . In an in vitro study, involving the molecular docking of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, buty-2-ethylhexyl ester), the metabolic activity of α-glucosidase, and αamylase declined.…”

“…It is noteworthy, that natural antioxidants exacerbate their effects by supplying hydrogen (or electrons) to the orbital of the free radical molecule with the aim of stabilizing the structural configuration. 27 In the light of our result, the fraction showed the capacity to inhibit free radicals, however, the effect was strong against DPPH, NO and LP radicals rather than Fe 3+ radicals, and this had been previously reported in a study conducted by 28,29 Effect of the fraction on digestive enzymes of carbohydrate.…”

“…38 Moreover, hydroxylated secondary metabolites (polyphenols) have significantly elucidated profound biological activity against free radicals, -causative agents for different ailments. 29 According to published studies, squalenephenolic compound, belonging to the triterpene family has gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory agent. [39][40][41]29 In the work conducted by Swamy et al, 2017, neophytadiene (sequiterpenoid) was reported to stimulate antioxidant, anti-diabetic and antiinflammatory activity, 29,42 while a terpene alcohol compound characterized as 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol had antiinflammatory and antimicrobial via antioxidant activity.…”

Therapeutic effect of the solvent fraction of hexane leaf extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) (Loranthaceae) in alloxan-induced pathology in diabetic rats

“…One key therapeutic approach to ameliorating postprandial hyperglycemia is simply to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolytic enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), thereby preventing glucose absorption after carbohydrate ingestion (Ben Salem et al, 2017;Emordi et al, 2018). Ihegboro et al (2024) reported that the presence of 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, butyl-2-ethylhexyl ester could have influenced the antidiabetic outcome, by inhibiting the metabolic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase (Elavarasi et al, 2020;Hassan et al, 2022;Ihegboro et al, 2024).…”