Ethanol Extract of Hymenocardia acida Tul (Euphorbiaceae) Ameliorates Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures and Neuroinflammation in Mice

Abstract

Epilepsy is a non-communicable neurological condition with recurrent seizures resulting from uncontrolled neuronal firing as its significant symptoms. Since the practice of traditional medicine and the use of herbal products is common among middle- to low-income countries, it has become imperative to investigate the probable benefit of these products in the treatment of epilepsy. This study evaluated the possible neuroprotective role of Hymenocardia acida leaf extract against the neuronal damage in a mouse model of chemically-induced seizures using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Fifty (50) mice were divided into five groups (n=10) comprising a normal control group, which received vehicle, a PTZ-only group (35 mg/kg, i.p), a 50 mg/kg H. acida group, a 100 mg/kg H. acida group and a positive control group, which received 300 mg/kg diazepam. A total of ten (10) PTZ injections were administered to mice in groups 3-5 on alternate days, one hour after treatments. The resulting seizures were graded by severity. The brain tissues were harvested and used for the determination of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Data was analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test at p<0.05 significance. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of H. acida (EEHA) significantly reduced the severity of PTZ-induced seizures as from day 5. The PTZ-induced overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly ameliorated by both doses of EEHA. In conclusion, the neuroprotective effect of EEHA may be due to its anti-inflammatory ability, as evidenced in the amelioration of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.