Evaluation Of Anticonvulsant Activity Of Extracts And Isolates From Maytenus Heterophylla.

ABSTRACT

Convulsion is a chronic neurological disorder that develops in up to 5% of the world’s

population with prevalence of nearly 88% occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, prompting serious

medical, social, health related stigma and discrimination. Although a number of antiepileptic

drugs (AED) are available for patients, most of the drugs have been associated with adverse side

effects, dose-related neurotoxicity and teratogenic effects besides the AED therapy failures

reported in approximately 20% of the patients. Since AED therapies have draw backs restricting

their clinical utility, herbal medicines may offer therapeutic options due to their accessibility, and

less or no side effects. Maytenus heterophylla is one such plant that has been in use by the Teso

communities in western Kenya to manage convulsions. However, there is no scientific evidence

to validate the application. Therefore, the current study was intended to screen the extracts for

anticonvulsant activity, isolate the pure compounds and test them for anticonvulsant activity. A

bioassay-guided isolation and characterization was designed to evaluate the antiepileptic

potential of the various parts of M. heterophylla. Solvent extraction followed by

chromatographic separation and spectroscopic techniques were used to isolate and characterize

the compounds from the active fractions. Picrotoxin-induced convulsion assays in white albino

Swiss mice was used to evaluate the in-vivo anticonvulsion potential of the extracts and

compounds. Stem bark methanol extract (200 mg/kg b.w) significantly (P