A comparative study on the anticonvulsive effects of the aqueous extrract ot the Rosmarinus officinalis plant with phenobarbitaln pentylentetrazol-induced seizures in mice

The co nvulsive dis orders are among chro nic diseases, whic h usu ally need a long-term drug the rapy. Unfortunately, most of the drugs used clinically to treat disorde rs exer t many side effects. Therefore, searc h fo r finding new drugs is being carried o ut in many laboratories. The object of this research is a comparative study on the anticonvulsive effect of the aqueo us ext ract o f the plan t R osmarinu s offici na li s wit h p he no barbital in pentyleneterazol-induced seizures in mice. After acclimatizatio n, animals were randomly divided in different groups. Control group received normal saline (6 ml/kg), stan dard groups received (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg) phenobarbital and the test groups received aqueous plant extract (3, 6, 9 and 12 nil/kg). All injections were carried out as i.p. All animals were firstly exposed to pentylentetrazol (80 mg/kg, i.p). The onset of seizures, behaviora l changes, duration of the seizures and number of death were reco rded in all groups during the first 24 hours. Results showed that all amounts of the plant extr acts delay the onse t of seizures but the most effective dose was 12 ml/kg, which was comparable to pheno ba rbital (30 mg/kg). All amount of the extract, except 3 ml/kg, significantly reduced the dura tion of seizu res, compared to the contro l group. Number of death was 45, 0 and 10 percent in control, sta ndard and test group; respect ively. Findings showed that 12 mllkg of the aqueous plant extract is able to reduce the o nse t o f se izu re s, dur at ion of se izu re s and number o f death a ft er 24 hours in pentylentetrazol-induced seizures.