Experimental Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Activity of Hydrocotyle Asiatica linn (Centella asiatica) in Albino Mice

To evaluate the antiepileptic activity of Hydrocotyle asiatica linn (aqueous extract) in preventing maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsions. To compare its efficacy with standard drugs- phenytoin for MES method and sodium valproate for PTZ method. 48 male albino mice weighing 18-30g are selected and divided into 2 groups of 24 mice each – one group for MES and other group for PTZ method. In MES method, seizures were induced via ear clip electrodes with a current of 50 mA for 0.2 seconds. Each mouse is pretreated with drugs (p.o.) one hour before MES test. The different groups include – Group C1 administered distilled water (0.25ml), Group S1 administered phenytoin (50 mg/kg), Group T1 administered aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle asiatica linn (100 mg/kg) and Group T2 administered aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle asiatica linn (300mg/kg). In PTZ method, seizures were induced by giving PTZ 80 mg/kg s.c. Each mouse is pretreated with drugs one hour before giving PTZ. The different groups include – Group C2 administered distilled water (0.25ml p.o.), Group S2 administered sodium valproate (300mg/kg i.p.), Group T3 administered aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle asiatica linn (100 mg/kg) and Group T4 administered aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle asiatica linn (300mg/kg). The aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle asiatica at a dose of 300mg/kg has shown statistically significant anticonvulsant activity against both MES and PTZ convulsions and its anticonvulsant activity is similar to that of standard sodium valproate (300mg/kg).