Antiepileptic Activity of Four Selected Skullcap (Scutellaria) Species on Mice

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder which hasdifferent types. Epileptic convulsions are decreasing lifequality of patients and can even cause death. Medicaltreatment of epilepsy includes drugs and surgicalinterventions. Plant originated substances offers newmolecules in this issue. In this study we have studied 4different Skullcap (Scutellatia) species. Methanolic extracts ofaerial parts of Scutellaria brevibracteata subsp brevibracteata,S. galericulata, S. megalapsis and S. orientalis subsp pichleriwere tested on mice in pentylentetrazol induced convulsions.Animals were administered 5 days with 200 mg/kg i.p. plantextracts dissolved in physiological saline. Last day they wereinjected with 80 mg/kg pentylentetrazol. Pentylentetrazolgroup was administered solely with pentylentetrazol. Resultsshowed a decrease in number of animals having tonic clonicconvulsion (p>0.05), a decrease in number of ex animals dueto convulsions (p>0.05), an increase in latency to have tonicclonicconvulsions (p>0.05) in all tested Scutellaria groups anda significant increase in latency for first myoclonic convulsion(p<0.05) in S. orientalis subsp pichleri species againstpentylentetrazol induced convulsions. Evaluation of presentresults may suggest a potential anticonvulsive activity oftested Scutellaria species. Further studies are needed todetermine related molecules from this activity.