Table 4 Plant crude extracts with in vivo antiepileptic/anticonvulsant activities
No. | Scientific name | PU | Extract | Seizure-inducing stimuli | Animal models | Doses (mg/kg) | Treatment outcomes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Acalypha fruticosa | Ar | CH | PTZ, MES & INH | Adult Swiss albino mice (25–30 g) | 30–300 | Protected the mice from PTZ and MES-induced convulsions. Delayed the latency of convulsions triggered by INH | [113] |
2 | Ajuga integrifolia | L | HME | PTZ & MES | Swiss albino mice (20–30 g) | 100–400 | HME extract significantly delayed the latency onset of PTZ-induced convulsions at all doses (100, 200 & 400 mg/kg) and decreased the duration of tonic hind limb extension in the MES model. Unlike BU and CH fractions, the AQ fraction didn’t show any effect on latency and duration of convulsions at all doses | [149] |
3 | Allium sativum | Bu | AQ | PLC | Male adult Wistar rats (200–250 g) | 100 & 300 | The AQ extract demonstrated neuroprotective potential in PLC-induced neurodegeneration, mitigated the prefrontal cortex (PFC) astrogliosis. However, it didn’t decrease GLU and other neurotransmitter levels | [150] |
4 | Artemisia afra | Wh | HET | PTZ | Male BALB/c mice (22–30 g) | 250–1000 | Delay the mean onset of convulsion and decrease the mean duration of convulsions | [151] |
5 | Asparagus africanus | R | AQ | PLC | Mus musculus Swiss mice (20–29 g) | 63.5–254 | Decreased the duration and number of clonic and tonic convulsions. Increased the latency time of onset of clonic and tonic convulsions | [127] |
6 | Azadirachta indica | – | – | PTZ | Sprague Dawley strain male rats | 100 | Decrease in seizures severity by decreasing the mean onset time of jerks and protecting the brain against anoxic damage and oxidative stress (OS) due to prolonged seizures | [152] |
|  |  | R | HET | PTZ & MES | Albino rats of either sex (200–250 g) & albino mice of either sex (30–50 g) | 200–800 | There was no significant increase in the mean duration of hind limb extension in the test groups at all doses (200, 400 & 800 mg/kg). The HET root extract was devoid of any anticonvulsant activity in rodents | [153] |
7 | Balanites aegyptica | SB | CH & HME | PTZ, MES & PLC | Male Albino Swiss mice (28–38 g) & male Albino Swiss rats (200–225 g) | 200 & 400 | Both solvent extracts significantly suppressed hind limb extension and delayed latency of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsions of mice at all doses. Similarly, the CH (100 mg) and HME (100 & 200 mg) extracts delayed the latency to rearing with forelimb clonus in rats | [154] |
8 | Buddleja polystachya | L | HME | PTZ & MES | S iss albino mice (27–33 gm) | 100–400 | The HME extract elicited a significant anticonvulsant effect in MES (all doses) and PTZ models (200 & 400 mg/kg). The BU fractions showed a significant anticonvulsant effect in both models. In addition, the CH fractions were active against seizure-induced by PTZ (200 & 400 mg/kg). While the AQ fractions were devoid of any anticonvulsant activities in both models | [155] |
9 | Carissa edulis | RB | AQ | PTZ, PIC, STR, NMDA, INH & AMP | Swiss Albino mice (18–30 g) & Wistar albino male rats (130–220 g) | 150–600 | The AQ fractions protected PTZ, STR, and NMDA-induced seizures significantly at higher doses. But the AQ fractions and sub-fractions showed no effect on MES-induced seizures | [156] |
|  |  |  | HET | PTZ & MES | Swiss Albino mice of either sex (15–24 g) & White ranger cockerels of either sex (30–41 g) | 5–20 | Delayed the mean onset of convulsions in mice and chicks. It exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of the convulsion induced by MES (90% protection at 20 mg/kg) | [104] |
10 | Clerodendrum myricoides | L | HET | PTZ | Male BALB/c mice (22–30 g) | 300–1200 | Unlike the solvent fractions, the crude extract demonstrated a significant delay in the mean latency to onset of seizures and decrease the duration of convulsions in a dose-dependent manner | [157] |
11 | Clutia abyssinica | L | HME | PTZ & MES | Male BALB/c mice (20–30 g) | 400 & 800 | Though the crude extract exhibited insignificant dose-dependent delay on the onset of a seizure, it improved the survival of mice | [158] |
12 | Croton macrostachyus | SB | AQ | PIC, STR, PTZ, INH & MES | Adult male Mus musculus Swiss mice (19–25 g) | 13–135 | The crude extract prevented the mice from PIC, STR, PTZ, and MES-induced seizures. It also delayed the onset of INH-induced seizures | [140] |
13 | Indigofera arrecta | L | ME | PTZ | Zebrafish with an AB or EK strain | 30–300* | The main constituent, idirubin, revealed reduction of epileptiform discharges in PTZ-treated zebrafish larvae | [144] |
14 | Jatropha curcas | L | AQ | PTZ & MES | Male albino mice (25–30 g) | 100–400 | Protected the mice against the MES-induced convulsion. While at 400 mg/kg, it significantly protected the mice against PTZ-induced seizures | [134] |
15 | Maytenus heterophylla | L, R & SB | ME | PIC | White Swiss albino mice (20–24 g) | 50–200 | The stembark extract significantly suppressed convulsions induced by PIC better than the leaf and root extracts. It also offered up to 62.5% protection against seizure at 200 mg/kg which was significant (p < 0.05) as compared to diazepam | [159] |
16 | Nicotiana tabacum | Ar | AQ & HME | PTZ | Random breed albino male mice (18–24 g) | 100 | Both extracts decreased the onset and severity of seizures (but it is statistically insignificant as compared to the negative control group). Both extracts decreased the mortality of PTZ-treated mice | [160] |
17 | Olea europaea | – | – | PTZ | Mice weighing (25–30 g) | 20 | The active constituent of Olea europaea leaf, oleuropein (20 mg/kg), caused a significant increase in seizure latency and a significant decrease in the whole body seizure | [161] |
18 | Opuntia ficus-indica | Fl | HME | PTZ, MES & STR | Swiss albino mice (20–25 g) | 250 & 500 | Protect the mice against PTZ, MES, and STR-induced seizures | [135] |
19 | Pentas schimperiana | RB | HME | PTZ & MES | Swiss albino mice (20–30 g) | 100–400 | The BU and ME fractions significantly inhibited the PTZ and MES-induced seizure at 400 mg/kg | [162] |
20 | Pterolobium stellatum | L | AQ & HME | PTZ & MES | Swiss albino mice (25–32 g) | 100–400 | The HME extract exhibited a dose-dependent increase on the latency onset of seizure against PTZ. In addition, both HME and AQ fractions demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in duration of hind limb tonic extensions in the MES model and myoclonic seizure in the PTZ model at 400 mg/kg | [163] |
21 | Ruta chalepensis | Ar | ET | PTZ | Male Swiss albino mice (25–30 g) | 10–1000 | Delayed the onset of seizures and a dose-dependent suppression in the tonic phase and mortality induced by PTZ was noticed | [164] |
22 | Securidaca longepedunculata | R | AQ | STR & PIC | Albino mice of either sex (20–25 g) | 100–400 | The extract elicited dose-dependent increase in onset of convulsion and prolongation of the cumulative time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and Y maze compared with the control | [165] |
|  |  | SB | AQ | PTZ, MES & AMP | Swiss albino mice of either sex (18–25 g) | 50–200 | The extract afforded significant protection against the mice treated with PTZ (50 & 100 mg/kg) and MES (50 mg/kg). It didn’t attenuate AMP induced seizure though it prolonged the onset of convulasions at 100 and 200 mg/kg | [166] |
23 | Sida rhombifolia | Wh | ME | PTZ & MES | Swiss albino mice of either sex (25–30 g) | 100–400 | The ME crude extract significantly reduced the duration of seizures at all doses | [136] |
24 | Withania somnifera | S & R | ET | PTZ & MES | Albino Wistar rats of either sex (150–200 g) | 100–300 | The extracts significantly suppressed hind limb tonic extension and postictal depression in MES test groups at 300 mg/kg. Moreover, a significant reduction in the mean duration of hind limb tonic flexion, hind limb tonic extension, clonus, and stupor in PTZ test groups | [110] |
25 | Xanthium stramonium | Wh | PE | PTZ & MES | Albino Wister albino rats (150–200 g) | 250 & 500 | The crude extract reduced the duration of convulsions. It also delayed the onset of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsion in albino Wister rats | [167] |
26 | Zingiber officinale | Rh | HET | PTZ | Wild type adult zebrafish of the AB strain | 60b | The active constituent of the extract, 6-gingerol (6-GIN), effectively inhibited PTZ-induced seizures | [168] |
|  |  |  |  |  | Adult male Swiss mice | 25–200 | It significantly increased the onset time of myoclonic seizures at a dose of 25–100 mg/kg and significantly prevented generalized clonic seizures | [169] |