The potential anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extracts of Achillea nobilis and Momordica charantia in rats

Context: Currently available antiepileptic drugs have debilitating adverse effects. Natural products and plants already used in traditional medicine can be a good place to start in the search for safer and more effective options. Aims: To investigate the anticonvulsant potential of Achillea nobilis and Momordica charantia extracts in maximal electroshock (MES), as well as pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-and strychnine nitrate (STN)- induced seizure models in rats. Methods: For each model, eight groups of 21-day-old male Albino rats were used. The 1st group was kept as control, 2nd as standard (diazepam, 7.5 mg/kg); 3rd - 5th treated with A. nobilis (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg); and 6th - 8th administered M. charantia (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg). After 30 min, rats were exposed to a shock of 150 mA by a convulsiometer, via ear electrodes for 2 s (in MES test) or sc injection of PTZ (85 mg/kg) or STN (2.5 mg/kg). Results: A. nobilis and M. charantia extracts (200 and 300 mg/kg) demonstrated dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect against MES-induced seizures. In the PTZ induced convulsion, A. nobilis and M. charantia (200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly slowed the commencement of convulsions and minimized the duration of seizures. A. nobilis (300 mg/kg) showed 60% protection in rats against STN induced seizures. In contrast, A. nobilis (100 and 200 mg/kg) and M. charantia (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) showed no significant protection against STN-induced seizures in rats. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that both extracts exhibited marked anticonvulsant activities.