Phyto-pharmacological Benefit of Methanol Whole Plant Extract of Ocimum canum Sims. in Chemically-induced Epileptic Rat Model

The role of Ocimum canum Sims., as a medicinal agent used for the treatment and management of diseases cannot be overemphasized. The aim of the study is to screen for Phytochemical constituents and to evaluate the antiepileptic effect of methanol whole plant extract in Wistar albino rats. The whole plant part of Ocimum canum was extracted with 85% percentage of methanol and screened for phytochemicals. Acute toxicity study was carried out using Lorke’s method and the antiepileptic activity was evaluated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine in rats. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used in analysis the data. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids and cardenolides. The intraperitoneal median lethal dose value (LD50) of Ocimum canum in rats was 2154 mg/kg. The extract at the dose of 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight protected 40% and 80% of experimental animals against both PTZ and strychnine-induced convulsion; protected 60% and 80% of rats against death induced by strychnine; compared to 100% protection by the standard drug sodium valproate (20mg/kg). The antiepileptic investigation suggests that methanol extract of whole plant of Ocimum canum has antiepileptic activity and that could be employed for the management of epileptic related conditions.