Anticonvulsant Activity of Leaves of Folklore Plant Parkinsonia aculeata (L)

Parkinsonia aculeata L (Family: -Caesalpinaceae) is a folklore medicine of India used for treatment of seizures. This plant was studied for anticonvulsant activity using maximal electroshock induced seizures (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsions model and for detection of neurotoxicity rotarod model was used in albino mice. The highest anticonvulsant activity was shown for aqueous and ethanolic extract of leaves at 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg respectively in MES model where they protected MES induced tonic extensor of hind limb. Chloroform and benzene extracts of leaves were devoid of any inhibitory activity. On the other hand in PTZ model all the extracts did not show any protection of clonic convulsions induced by PTZ upto dose of 300mg/kg. While in Rotarod model no single animal shows toxicity up to 300mg/kg. This study provides documentary evidence for its folklore use as anticonvulsant and thus considered for further study in our laboratory.