The antiepileptic effect of Centella asiatica on the activities of Na/K, Mg and Ca-ATPases in rat brain during pentylenetetrazol-induced epilepsy.

BACKGROUND

To study the anticonvulsant effect of different extracts of Centella asiatica (CA) in male albino rats with reference to Na(+)/K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats (150+/-25 g b.w.) were divided into seven groups of six each i.e. (a) control rats treated with saline, (b) pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic group (60 mg/kg, i.p.), (c) epileptic group pretreated with n-hexane extract (n-HE), (d) epileptic group pretreated with chloroform extract (CE), (e) epileptic group pretreated with ethyl acetate extract (EAE), (f) epileptic group pretreated with n-butanol extract (n-BE), and (g) epileptic group pretreated with aqueous extract (AE).

RESULTS

The activities of three ATPases were decreased in different regions of brain during PTZ-induced epilepsy and were increased in epileptic rats pretreated with different extracts of CA except AE.

CONCLUSIONS

The extracts of C. asiatica, except AE, possess anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity and thus can be used for effective management in treatment of epileptic seizures.