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
WAFULA, M (2021). Evaluation Of Anticonvulsant Activity Of Extracts And Isolates From Maytenus Heterophylla.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/evaluation-of-anticonvulsant-activity-of-extracts-and-isolates-from-maytenus-heterophylla
WAFULA, MUREKA "Evaluation Of Anticonvulsant Activity Of Extracts And Isolates From Maytenus Heterophylla." Afribary. Afribary, 05 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/evaluation-of-anticonvulsant-activity-of-extracts-and-isolates-from-maytenus-heterophylla. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
WAFULA, MUREKA . "Evaluation Of Anticonvulsant Activity Of Extracts And Isolates From Maytenus Heterophylla.". Afribary, Afribary, 05 May. 2021. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/evaluation-of-anticonvulsant-activity-of-extracts-and-isolates-from-maytenus-heterophylla >.
WAFULA, MUREKA . "Evaluation Of Anticonvulsant Activity Of Extracts And Isolates From Maytenus Heterophylla." Afribary (2021). Accessed December 23, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/evaluation-of-anticonvulsant-activity-of-extracts-and-isolates-from-maytenus-heterophylla