Original Articles: 2010 Vol: 2 Issue: 5
Antioxidant activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Erythrina fusca Lour. bark against the animal models of epilepsy
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-oxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the bark of Erythrina fusca Lour (HAEEF) using different in vivo experimental models. Animals are used for the demonstration of an injury by exogenous agents of epileptic seizure on the brain with its physiological significance. Epileptic seizure challenged animals treated with HAEEF at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg showed antioxidant activity. Thus, it can be inferred that the hydro-alcoholic extract of Erythrina fusca Lour bark possess antioxidant effect against the animal models of epilepsy. The malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in serum and brain tissue, the levels of SOD is significantly decreased in brain tissue and epileptic seizures caused a significant (P<0.01) depletion in reduced glutathione (GSH) level in the rat brain tissue with intoxication of epileptic seizures by MES, PTX and PTZ models of epilepsy. The effect of HAEEF on oxidative stress in MES, PTX and PTZ models of epileptic seizures was evaluated and there was a simultaneous significant decrease in the SOD and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. The decrease in MDA levels and increase in SOD and GSH levels in HAEEFtreated epileptic models may be due to its antioxidant property.