Antiepileptic Activity of Indian Filbert Fruit Extract in Experimental Animal Models

Aim: To screen the antiepileptic activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Indian filbert.

Methodology: The cleaned, dried and powdered fruits of Indian filbert were subjected to extraction.Preliminary Phytochemical studies were carried out for the presence secondary metabolites.Acute toxicity and anticonvulsant effect on maximal electroshock induced seizures and metrazol (pentylenetetrazole) induced seizures carried out in experimental animals.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical studies showed the presence of steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, carbohydrates. Acute toxicity of ethanolic extract of fruits were found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg body weight Ethanolic extract of Indian (100,200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) as well as protected animals from metrazol induced tonic seizures and the results were found to be significant (P=0.05) when compared to control

Conclusions: The presence of triterpenoids, steroids and flavonoid might be responsible for the antiepileptic activity of the fruit extract of Indian filbert.