Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous root extract of Ficus religiosa.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ficus religiosa Linn is frequently used for the treatment of nervous disorders among Pawara tribe of the Satpuda range, India.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant activity of the aqueous aerial root extract of Ficus religiosa in chemoconvulsant-induced seizures in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anticonvulsant activity of the extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was investigated in strychnine-, pentylenetetrazole-, picrotoxin- and isoniazid-induced seizures in mice. Rat ileum and fundus strip preparations were used to study the effect of the extract on acetylcholine (Ach)- and serotonin (5-HT)-induced contractions, respectively.

RESULTS: The extract showed no toxicity and protected the animals in the strychnine and pentylenetetrazole tests in a dose-dependent manner. Its effect in the picrotoxin and isoniazid tests, however, was less potent. The extract also exhibited dose-dependent potentiation of Ach in rat ileum but failed to potentiate the effect of 5-HT in rat fundus strip preparation.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an orally administered aqueous root extract of Ficus religiosa has dose-dependent and potent anticonvulsant activities against strychnine- and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. The observed activities may be ascribed to the appreciable content of zinc and magnesium in the extract.