The antiepileptic effect of Centella asiatica on the activities of Na(+)/K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)-ATPases in rat brain during pentylenetetrazol–induced epilepsy

BACKGROUND: To study the anticonvulsant effect of different extracts of Centella asiatica (CA) in male albino rats with reference to Na(+)/K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (150±25 g b.w.) were divided into seven groups of six each i.e. (a) control rats treated with saline, (b) pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic group (60 mg/kg, i.p.), (c) epileptic group pretreated with n-hexane extract (n-HE), (d) epileptic group pretreated with chloroform extract (CE), (e) epileptic group pretreated with ethyl acetate extract (EAE), (f) epileptic group pretreated with n-butanol extract (n-BE), and (g) epileptic group pretreated with aqueous extract (AE). RESULTS: The activities of three ATPases were decreased in different regions of brain during PTZ-induced epilepsy and were increased in epileptic rats pretreated with different extracts of CA except AE. CONCLUSION: The extracts of C. asiatica, except AE, possess anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity and thus can be used for effective management in treatment of epileptic seizures.