Potential Effect of Senna Hirsuta Leaf as Alternative Therapy for Epilepsy and Oxidative Stress

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous system and is characterized by strange emotions and actions. Antioxidants are believed to play a very vital role in the body defense system against reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS, is a basal cause of aging as well as various degenerative and chronic diseases in human. In Nigerian traditional medicinal practices, senna hirsuta (Family -Fabaceae) leaves are used as antibacterial, antifugus, herpes, antimalarial as well as treating convulsive disorders.

Aim: To evaluate the anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity of extract and fractions of Senna hirsuta leaves in both sex of swiss albino mice.

Methodolgy: The methanol crude extract was subjected to fractionation using successively n-hexane, ethyl acteate and butanol to obtain their different fraction. Three in -vivo test models were used for this study; Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), Picrotoxin (PTX), and Strychnine (STR) induced convulsion in both sex of swiss albino mice. The mice were allotted to five (5) groups; group 1 served as the negative control, group II served as the positive / standard control. While groups III-V served as the test group that received Senna hirsuta extract and fractions at a dose 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o respectively. Two in vitro antioxidant assays, DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) were used. Their absorbance were gotten and compared with that of standard (L-absorbic acid).

Result: The result shows that n- hexane fraction (HF) at all dose (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (400 mg/kg) and methanol extract (ME) (400 mg/kg) dose dependently exhibited significant (p<0.05) delayed in the onset of myclonic spasm (MS) and tonic - clonic phase (TCP) compared with the negative control. HF at 400 mg/kg exhibited 66-67% protection against mortality compared with the negative control. Also in DPPH and FRAP assays the methanol extract and fractions exhibited very strong antioxidants activity since their IC50 values were below 50 µg / ml.

Conclusion: Senna hirsuta leaves possesses significant anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity via non- specific mechanisms.