|
 |
| RESEARCH ARTICLE |
|
|
|
| Year : 2011 | Volume
: 43
| Issue : 2 | Page : 197-199 |
| |
Anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens: A study on role of dopaminergic system in epilepsy in albino rats
D Champatisingh1, PK Sahu2, A Pal2, GS Nanda1
1 Department of Pharmacology, University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bhubaneswar-751 004, Orissa, India
2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Orissa, India
| Date of Submission | 30-Sep-2009 |
| Date of Decision | 06-Jul-2010 |
| Date of Acceptance | 06-Jan-2011 |
| Date of Web Publication | 6-Mar-2011 |
Correspondence Address:
P K Sahu
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Orissa
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.77368
Objective : To assess the anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of leaves of Mucuna pruriens in albino rats.
Materials and Methods : Haloperidol-induced catalepsy (HIC), maximum electro-shock (MES) method, pilocarpine-induced Status epilepticus (PISE) and single-dose effect of M. pruriens were employed.
Results : M. pruriens (100 mg/kg) had significant anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity in HIC, MES, and PISE.
Conclusions : M. pruriens extract has the potential to be an anticataleptic and antiepileptic drug. Dopamine and 5-HT may have a role in such activity.
Keywords: Catalepsy, dopamine, epilepsy, Mucuna pruriens
How to cite this article:
Champatisingh D, Sahu P K, Pal A, Nanda G S. Anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens: A study on role of dopaminergic system in epilepsy in albino rats. Indian J Pharmacol 2011;43:197-9 |
How to cite this URL:
Champatisingh D, Sahu P K, Pal A, Nanda G S. Anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens: A study on role of dopaminergic system in epilepsy in albino rats. Indian J Pharmacol [serial online] 2011 [cited 2023 May 28];43:197-9. Available from: https://www.ijp-online.com/text.asp?2011/43/2/197/77368 |
| » Introduction | |  |
Catalepsy is a nervous condition characterized by muscular rigidity and fixity of posture regardless of external stimuli as well as decreased sensitivity to pain. Catalepsy can appear in schizophrenia, Parkinsonism More Details, and epilepsy. Symptoms include rigid body, rigid limbs, and limbs staying in the same position when moved. [1]
Epilepsy is defined as a group of disorders of central nervous system (CNS) characterized by paroxysmal cerebral dysrhythmia, manifesting as brief episodes (seizures) of loss or disturbances of consciousness with or without characteristic body movement (convulsion), sensory or psychiatric phenomena. [2] Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder affecting the worldwide population. [3]
The plant Mucuna pruriens (family: Fabaceae) is an annual plant found in India. It has high content of dopamine in seeds. The plant also contains 5-HT. [4] The leaves of M. pruriens (MP) are also reported to contain dopamine. [5] Dopamine is used for treatment of catalepsy. [6] It also acts as a neuroprotective agent in epilepsy. [7] The seeds of MP are reported to possess anti-cataleptic activity. [8] However, literature survey does not reveal any such activity in leaves of MP. Therefore the present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-cataleptic and antiepileptic effects of ethanolic extracts of leaves of MP.
| » Materials and Methods | | |
Animals
Adult albino rats of either sex (weighing 150-175g) bred in the animal house, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, were used for this study. Animals were housed under a standard 12 h:12 h light/dark cycle and were provided with food and water ad libitum. Animals were acclimatized to laboratory conditions before testing. Each animal was used once. The experimental protocol was approved by Institutional Animal Ethics committee, SOA University, (reg. no. 1171/c/08/CPCSEA) and the study was conducted according to the CPCSEA guidelines for the use and care of experimental animals.
Preparation of alcoholic extract
The leaves of MP were collected from Chandaka forest near Bhubaneswar after due authentication and were shade dried. The leaf powder was subjected to successive soxhlet extraction for 12 h with petroleum ether followed by chloroform and finally with 95% ethanol. The ethanolic extract thus obtained is used in the study.
Drugs and dosage
The test drug, ethanolic extract of leaves of MP (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), and standard drugs levodopa (100 mg/kg i.p.), phenytoin (25 mg/kg i.p.), diazepam (5 mg/kg i.p.), haloperidol (1 mg/kg i.p.), and pilocarpine (350 mg/kg i.p.) were suspended or dissolved in distilled water and administered.
Experimental Design
Haloperidol-induced catalepsy
Catalepsy was induced with haloperidol (1 mg/kg i.p.) and assessed at 30 min intervals until 120 min by means of a standard bar test. Haloperidol was chosen so that it could elicit a moderate degree of catalepsy. [9] Catalepsy was assessed in terms of points given to imposed position of limbs (front) extended and resting on a 3 and 9 cm high wooden bar (1 cm diameter). The end of catalepsy was considered to occur when both front paws were removed from the bar or if the animal moved its head in an exploratory manner. [10] Levodopa (100 mg/kg) was used as standard treatment. Ethanolic extract of MP was administered to three different groups (n=6 in each group) at a dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg p.o. respectively 1 h prior to haloperidol administration.
Scoring methods
If the animal maintained the imposed posture for at least 10 s it was considered to be cataleptic.
Stage I - Rat moves normally when placed on the table, score = 0.
Stage II - Rat moves only when touched or pushed, score = 0.5.
Stage III - Rat placed on the table with front paws set alternately on a 3 cm high block fails to correct the posture in 10 s, score = 0.5, for each paw with a total, score = 1, for this stage.
Stage IV - Rat fails to remove when the front paws are placed alternately on a 9 cm high block, score = 1, for each paw with a total score = 2 for this stage. [11]
Maximum electroshock method
MES seizures were evoked through transauricular electrodes with a current of 150 mA for duration of 0.2 s. The ethanolic extract of MP was administered to a group of rats (n=6) in a dose of 100 mg/kg, p.o, 1 h before application of electroshock. The duration of tonic hind limb extensor was noted. [12] The percentage of protection was calculated. Phenytoin (25 mg/kg) was used as standard.
Pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus
The albino rats were divided into group of six each. Status epilepticus was induced by administration of pilocarpine at a dose of 350 mg/kg, i.p. Atropine 1 mg/kg i.p. was administered 30 min prior to pilocarpine to reduce the peripheral cholinergic effects of pilocarpine. The ethanolic extract of MP 100 mg/kg was given orally 1 h before injection of pilocarpine nitrate. The severity of status epilepticus was observed every 15 min till 90 min and thereafter every 30 min till 180 min using the following scoring system. Diazepam (5 mg/kg) was used as standard. [13]
Stage 0 - No response.
Stage 1 - Fictive scratching.
Stage 2 - Tremor.
Stage 3 - Head nodding.
Stage 4 - Forelimb clonus.
Stage 5 - Rearing and falling back.
Statistical Analysis
The data were expressed as mean ± SEM. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's t-test. P<0.01 was considered as significant. [11]
| » Results | | |
Effect of the ethanolic extract of leaves of MP on HIC
The cataleptic score in rats treated with ethanolic extract of leaves of MP (100 mg/kg) showed a significant (P<0.01) reduction like levodopa (100 mg/kg) against HIC [Table 1]. The control group showed a maximum cataleptic score of 3.5 after 90 min of haloperidol administration. | Table 1: Anticataleptic effect of Mucuna pruriens (MP) on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats.
Click here to view |
Effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of MP on tonic hind limb extension in MES
The duration of tonic hind limb extension in rats treated with vehicle was 16.83±0.62 s. The ethanolic extract of leaves of MP showed a significant (P<0.01) reduction in tonic extension phase (4.66±0.46 s) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. It completely abolished the tonic extension phase in three out of six rats (50% protection). At higher doses also the response was similar [Table 2]. | Table 2: Antiepileptic effect of acute administration of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens (MP) on maximal electric-shock (MES)-induced seizures in rats.
Click here to view |
Effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of MP on pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus
The ethanolic extract of leaves of MP (100 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.01) reduced the epileptic score in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model as compared to control [Table 3]. Diazepam (5 mg/kg) also significantly reduced the severity of seizures. | Table 3: Antiepileptic effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens (MP) (100 mg/kg) on pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in rats
Click here to view |
| » Discussion | | |
The alcoholic extract showed no signs of lethality up to 2000 mg/kg. So initially three doses i.e. 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were selected for the evaluation of anticataleptic activity using the HIC model. At a dose of 100 mg/kg the ethanolic extract showed a significant reduction (P<0.01) of the cataleptic score. So for the evaluation of MES and PISE, the same dose of 100 mg/kg was used. However, for evaluation of dose-dependent antiepileptic activity, two more doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg were used in MES.
The HIC model is used to assess anticataleptic drugs. Inhibition of cataleptic score predicts activity of drug against Parkinson's disease. So the ethanolic extract of MP may be useful in catalepsy. [14]
The MES is probably the best validated method for assessment of antiepileptic drugs in general tonic clonic seizure. Inhibition of the MES test predicts activity against seizure and cortical focal seizure. So the MP extract may be useful in generalized tonic clonic and cortical focal seizure. [15] However, this antiepileptic activity is not dose dependent.
Status epilepticus induced by pilocarpine-treated rats has served as a useful model of temporal lobe epilepsy and reproduces some of the key features of temporal lobe epilepsy in human beings. Since MP extract significantly (P<0.01) reduces the epileptic score than control, it may be effective in temporal lobe epilepsy. [16]
The leaves of MP are reported to contain dopamine and 5-HT. Dopamine is used for treatment of catalepsy. Dopamine acts as a neuroprotective agent in epilepsy. Increased serotonin immunoreactivity has been reported in human epileptic brain tissue resected for the control of epilepsy. [17] 5-HT 1A receptors are reduced in the ipsilateral hippocampus in temporal-lobe epilepsy patients. [18] So dopamine and 5-HT might play an important role in the anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of the ethanolic extract of MP.
| » Acknowledgement | | |
The authors are thankful to the Vice Chancellor, Siksha O Anusandhan University for providing the research facilities.
| » References | | |
| 1. | Rasmussen K, Hsu MA, Noone S, Johnson BG, Thompson LK, Hemrick-Luecke SK. The treatment of extra pyramidal symptoms. Schizophr Bull 2007;33:1291-7. 
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 2. | Tripathy KD. Essentials of medical pharmacology. 5 th ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Publishers; 2003.
|
| 3. | Gardiner RM. Impact of our understanding of genetic aetiology of epilepsy. J Neurol 2000;247:327-34.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Hussain G, Manyam BV. The phytochemistry, toxicity and food potentials of velvet bean. Phytother 1997;11:419-23.
|
| 5. | Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Neuroprotective effects of the antiparkinson drug Mucuna pruriens. Phytother Res 2004;18:706-12.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 6. | Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: A double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004;75:1672-77.
|
| 7. | Bozzi Y, Vallone D, Borrelli E. Neuroprotective Role of Dopamine in CNS. J Neurosci 2000;20:8643-9.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 8. | Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Effect of antiparkinson drug HP-200 (Mucuna pruriens) on the central monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Phytother 2004;18:97-101.
|
| 9. | Silva SR, Futuro-Neto HA, Pires JG. Effects of 5-HT 3 receptor antagonists on neuroleptic-induced catalepsy in mice. Neuropharmacol 1995;34:97-9.
|
| 10. | Ferre S, Guix T, Prat G, Jane F, Casas M. Is experimental catalepsy properly measured? Pharmac Biochem Behav 1990;35:753-7.
|
| 11. | Kulkarni SK. Hand book of experimental pharmacology. 3 rd ed. New Delhi: Vallabh Prakashan; 1999.
|
| 12. | Ambawade SD, Kasture VS, Kasture SB. The anticonvulsant activity of roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Indian J Pharmacol 2002;34:251-5.
|
| 13. | Cavalheiro EA, Santos NF, Priel MR. The pilocarpine model of epilepsy in mice. Epilepsia 1996;37:1015-9.
[PUBMED] |
| 14. | Rao C, Lalit M, Gopalkrishna HN. The effect of NR-ANX-C (a polyherbal product) on HIC. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2004;48:108-9.
|
| 15. | Mc Donald RL, Kelly KM. Antiepileptic drugs and Mechanism of action. Epilepsia 1993;34:81-8.
|
| 16. | Ormandy GC, Jope RS, Snead OC. Anticonvulsant action of MK-801 on Pilocarpine-model of Status epilepticus in rats. Exp Neurol 1989;106:172-80.
|
| 17. | Trottier S, Evrard B, Vignal JP, Scarabin JM, Chauvel P. The serotonergic innervations of the cerebral cortex in man and its changes in focal cortical dysplasia. Epilep Res 1996;25:79-106.
|
| 18. | Clinckers R, Smolders I, Meurs A, Ebinger G, Michotte Y. Anticonvulsant action of hippocampal dopamine and serotonin is independently mediated by D and 5-HT receptors. J Neurochem 2004;89:834-43.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
A comprehensive review on antiepileptic properties of medicinal plants |
|
| Muhammad Faheem, Sara Ameer, Abdul Waheed Khan, Muhammad Haseeb, Qurratulaen Raza, Fawad Ali Shah, Ameer Khusro, Chirom Aarti, Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada, Gaber El-Saber Batiha, Niranjan Koirala, Muhammad Adnan, Saad Alghamdi, Hamza Assaggaf, Naif O. Alsiwiehri | | Arabian Journal of Chemistry. 2022; 15(1): 103478 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Exploiting Mesoporous Silica, Silver And Gold Nanoparticles For Neurodegenerative Diseases Treatment |
|
| Taís C. Ribeiro, Rafael M. Sábio, Gabriela C. Carvalho, Bruno Fonseca-Santos, Marlus Chorilli | | International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2022; : 121978 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 3 |
Mucuna pruriens seed protects the hippocampal neurons and abrogates seizure indices in chemically-convulsed mice: evidence of the Nrf2 expression defense pathway |
|
| Opeyemi Samson Osuntokun, Gbola Olayiwola, Ayomide Karimat Oriare, Samuel Oyeyemi Oyedokun, Taiwo Adekemi Abayomi, Olorinfemi Samuel Tokunbo, Abiodun Oladele Ayoka | | Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy. 2022; : 102115 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 4 |
Compound Characterization of a Mucuna Seed Extract: L-Dopa, Arginine, Stizolamine, and Some Fructooligosaccharides |
|
| Ana Lilia Hernández-Orihuela, Karla Viridiana Castro-Cerritos, Mercedes Guadalupe López, Agustino Martínez-Antonio | | Compounds. 2022; 3(1): 1 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 5 |
Neuropharmacological studies of ethanolic extract of Vaccinium corymbosum on Alzheimer’s type dementia and catatonia in Swiss albino mice |
|
| Hanish Singh Jayasingh Chellammal, Bama VV Menon, Mizaton Hazizul Hasan, Afiq Azil, Muhammad Taufiq Bin Suhaimi, Pavithiraa Chandarasekaran, Yasothini Murugan | | Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology. 2021; 10(2): 241 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 6 |
An assessment of potential nutritive and medicinal properties of Mucuna pruriens: a natural food legume |
|
| Ruhi Pathania, Prince Chawla, Huma Khan, Ravinder Kaushik, Mohammed Azhar Khan | | 3 Biotech. 2020; 10(6) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 7 |
Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) in antitubercular drugs and alcohol models |
|
| Mercy B. Obogwu,Abidemi J. Akindele,Olufunmilayo O. Adeyemi | | Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. 2014; 12(4): 273 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
