EVALUATION OF ANTICONVULSANT, ANTIANXIETY ACTIVITY OF IPOMOEA PES-TIGRIDIS EXTRACTS IN MICE

Ipomoea pes-tigridis (IP) is a twinning hairy herb grown in India. Based on the ethnopharmacological information of the plant, the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Ipomoea pes-tigridis was evaluated for its anticonvulsant, antianxiety activity in mice. The Antiepileptic activity was assessed by using MES (maximal electroshock) model (200 and 400 mg/kg), and antianxiety activity was assessed by using the hole board and open field test. Bodyweight doses were used for the present study. In MES model, the ethanolic extracts showed a dose-dependent reduction in duration of the hind limb extensor phase when compared with the control group. It is evident that the mice which were treated with 400 mg/kg of EEIP (Ethanolic extract of Ipomoea pes-tigridis) showed a significant (P˂0.0001) effect in all the phases on MES induced convulsion. In HBT (hole board test), It was noted that the mice which were treated with 400 mg/kg of EEIP showed a high significance (P˂0.0001) effect on the number of head dipping due to the anxiolytic activity. In OFT (open field test), the mice which were treated with 400 mg/kg of EEIP showed significant (P˂0.0001) as the locomotor activity lowering effect (anxiolytic effect) when compared to the Control. Glutamate level is significantly (P˂0.0001) in the ethanolic extract group containing a high dose. The decreased glutamate level shows a good anticonvulsant effect. The results suggest a possible anticonvulsant, antianxiety activity through a GABA-ergic interaction.