Saravanan et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research www.ejpmr.com 440 ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF BORASSUS FLABELLIFER LEAF EXTRACTS Saravanan Kaliyaperumal 1 *, Pushpesh Kumar Mishra 2 and Girendra Kumar Gautam 3 1 Research Scholar, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhagwant University, Shikar Road, Ajmer, Rajasthan. India. 2 Department of Chemistry, Naraina College of Pharmacy, Kanpur, UP, India. 3 Department of Chemistry, Bhagwant Institute of Pharmacy, Muzaffarnagar, UP, India. Article Received on 30/08/2016 Article Revised on22/09/2016 Article Accepted on 14/10/2016 1. INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological and social consequences of this condition. [1] The goal of anti- epileptic drug (AED) therapy is to achieve complete seizure control with a single drug taken once or twice a day without side effects. Approximately 70-80% of patients who develop epilepsy may expect to have their seizures controlled with a single drug, while others need combination therapy for improved seizure control. Limitations with conventional AEDs highlighted the need for developing newer agents for epilepsies. [2] The currently used antiepileptic drugs fail to provide satisfactory seizure control for nearly 15-20% patients with epilepsy especially those of partial epilepsies. For such patients combinations of antiepileptic drugs are often prescribed in attempts to improve seizure control. However, toxicities associated with these drugs can further compromise quality of life while drug interactions may complicate clinical management. [3] Borassus flabellifer L. belongs to the family Arecaceae, commonly known as Palmyra palm is a native of tropical Africa but cultivated and naturalized throughout India. The different parts of Borassus flabellfer are being used for medicinal properties. In the previous study, several steroidal saponins , poly saccharides and triterpenes were isolated from the fruit pulp and seeds, young shoots of Borassus flabellifer contains gum, albuminoids, fats and the fresh pulp contains vitamin A ,B and C, the inflorescence contains borassoside, dioscin and also contains sucrose, bitter compound flabelliferins. [4] Plant yields a black gum, a good source of Vitamin B complex, extract in stroke, head ache, earache, epilepsy, scabies, syphilis, ulcers, vomiting. Bark used as dentifrices, flowers in uterus tumors. Fruits as tonic for asthmatic patients, gonorrhea and given in gas troubles. Roots used as cooling medicine and restorative, diuretic and anthelmintic, in gastritis. [5] However the anticonvulsant activities of Borassus flabellifer on wistar rats have not been documented. Hence the present study is undertaken for the phytochemical investigation of and Borassus flabellifer to evaluate their traditionally claimed antiepileptic activity in wistar albino rats. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1Plant material and extraction Borassus flabellifer leaves were collected from Perambalur district in Tamilnadu and authenticated by Dr.(Prof)V.Sathyanathan Thirumala college of Pharmacy, Nizamabad, AP.The shade-dried leaves of Borassus flabellifer Linn, family Arecaceae were reduced to fine powder (# 40 size mesh) and around 300 SJIF Impact Factor 3.628 Research Article ISSN 2394-3211 EJPMR EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH www.ejpmr.com ejpmr, 2016,3(11), 440-444 Corresponding Author: Saravanan Kaliyaperumal Research Scholar, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhagwant University, Shikar Road, Ajmer, Rajasthan. India. ABSTRACT To determine the anticonvulsant activity of leaf extract of Borassus flabellifer Linn. in Wistar albino rats and in order to verify the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of epilepsy. The Maximal Electro Shock Seizure (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) were used for assessing the anticonvulsant activity of alcoholic and aqueous leaf extracts of Borassus flabellifer on wistar albino rats. The acute toxicity study was conducted as per guidelines set by OECD, and no adverse effects or mortality were detected up to 4g/kg,p.o.,based on the results obtained from the study the dose for anticonvulsant activity was fixed to be 100mg,200mg,400mg/kg b.w.,for dose dependent study. The alcoholic extract (400mg) of Borassus flabellifer had shown potent anticonvulsant activity than other extracts when compare to control group and the phenytoin and diazepam treated animals shown 100 percent protection against convulsant.The result from the study indicate that the 400mg of alcoholic leaf extract of Borassus flabellifer Linn. may be beneficial for anticonvulsant activity. KEYWORDS: Borassus flabellifer, Anticonvulsant activity, MES, PTZ.