The effects of crude lyophilised aqueous extract of Vernonia hochstetteri Schip. Bip. in rats with pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Abstract

Vernonia hochstetteri (Compo sitae ), a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat epilepsy by East African communities, was screened for anticonvulsant properties in rats with pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). Pretreatment with crude lyophilised aqueous extract of V hochstetteri (2 g/kg, i.p. - 6 g/kg, i.p.) increased seizure latency in rats. Oral and intraperitoneal pretreatment with lyophilized aqueous extract of V hochstetteri (6 g/kg) prior to pilocarpine (320 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment significantly decreased seizure frequency and duration when compared with controls (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with crude lyophilized aqueous extract of V hochstetteri (6 g/kg, i.p.) decreased pilocarpine-induced mortalities compared to saline pretreated rats (P < 0.05). At 'a dose of 6 g/kg, i.p, lyophilized aqueous extract of V hochstetteri had minimal acute behavioral neurotoxicity in rats as determined by the position sense test and gait and stance test. P~enobarbital significantly delayed onset of spiking in the EEG of pilocarpine treated rats by 29.5 ± 6.35 min. (P < 0.05). V. hochstetteri pretreatment did not significantly delay onset of spiking (15.5 ± 6.35 min) in the pilocarpine treated rats EEG compared to saline pretreated rats (onset of spiking at 14.5 ± 6.35 min) (P> 0.05). These results suggest that V hochstetteri has anticonvulsant principle(s) against pilocarpineinduced seizures in rats.