Anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract of Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae), leaves in rats

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the anticonvulsant activity
of ethanolic extract of Platycladus orientalis leaves in albino rats. P.
orientalis has an effective natural origin that has a tremendous future for
research as the novelty and applicability are still hidden. Thuja is used
traditionally for treatment of bronchial catarrh, enuresis, cystitis,
psoriasis, epilepsy, ulcer, uterine carcinomas, amenorrhea, rheumatism,
asthma, skin infections, mumps, bacterial dysentery, arthritic pains and
premature blandness. The present study was therefore carried out to
evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of ethanol leaf extract of P. orientalis
in rats. The anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of
Platycladus orientalis (100mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) was
assessed in rats using maximum electroshock seizure (MES) test and
pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure test. The extract of Platycladus
orientalis leaves significantly (p<0.01) reduced the hind limb tonic
extension in the MES test in a dose dependent manner. In the PTZ model
also, the extract signicantly (p<0.01) reduced the duration of clonic
convulsions as well as delay the onset of seizures in a dose dependent
manner.