Anticonvulsant Effects of Coriandrum Sativum L. Seed Extracts in Mice
Hossein Hosseinzadeh PharmD PhD?, Mohammad Madanifard PharmD
Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Background-Coriander (vernacular Geshniz)
seeds have been traditionally used in Iranian medicine
for their carminative, diuretic and anticonvulsant
effects.
Objective-The
anticonvulsant
effects of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Coriandrum
sativum seeds were studied in mice in order to
evaluate the folkloric use of this plant.
Methods-Two anticonvulsant evaluation
tests, namely the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and the
maximal electroshock tests, were used for assessing
antiseizure effects.
Results-In the pentylenetetrazole test,
the aqueous and ethanolic extracts prolonged the onset of
clonic convulsions and the anticonvulsant activity of
high dose extracts (5 mg/kg) were similar to that of
phenobarbital at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the PTZ test. Both
extracts in high doses decreased the duration of tonic
seizures and showed a statistically significant
anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock test.
Conclusion-Results indicate that the
aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. sativum
seeds may have a beneficial effect in petit mal and grand
mal seizures.
Keywords • Coriandrum sativum • coriander • anticonvulsant activity • medicinal plants • pentylenetetrazole test
Introduction
Coriandrum sativum, which is called Geshniz in Iran, has been reported to have several pharmacological effects such as antifertility1, antihyperglycemic2,3, antihyperlipidemic4,5,6, antioxidant4, antiprolife-rative7 and hypotensive activities8. Chemical studies on C. sativum have shown the presence of constituents such as quercetin 3-glucoronide9 linalool, camphor, geranyl acetate, geraniol10 and coumarins11.
This plant is furthermore, believed to have carminative, diuretic and anticonvulsant12 effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticonvulsant effect of coriandrum seed extracts on the maximal electric seizures and pentylenetetrazole tests.
Material and Methods
Animals
Male and female albino mice weighing 25-30 g were obtained from a random-bred colony of mice which were maintained on a special diet (Khorassan Javane Co., Mashhad, Iran) in the animal house of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The animals were housed in colony rooms with 12/12 h light/dark cycle at 21 ± 2° C and had free access to food and water.
Plant material
Seeds were collected from an area near the city of Abadan (southern Iran) in May 1998, dried in the shadow, and subsequently grounded. C. sativum L. was properly identified by Ferdowsi University (MS Safavy) and voucher samples were preserved for reference in the herbarium of Ferdowsi Herbarium, Mashhad, Iran (1872).
Preparation of extracts
A decoction extract was prepared to comply with the form usually used in folk medicine. Since there is possibility of decomposition of the active components in hot water, a maceration extract was also prepared. In the decoction method, one liter of hot water was added to the seeds (100 g), boiled for 15 minutes, and then filtered through cloth. The extract was then concentrated under reduced pressure to the desired volume (yield: 8.33%). In the maceration method, powdered seeds (200 g) were macerated in 500 ml ethanol (70%, v/v) for three days. This mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure at 50° C (yield: 4.5%) and then suspended by propylene glycol. In the preliminary experiment, propylene glycol (used for suspension of the ethanolic extract) did not show any anticonvulsant effect in low doses.
Anticonvulsant activity:
Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure test
The aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as phenobarbital were all injected intraperitoneally (i.p) 30, 40 and 45 minutes before administration of pentylenetetrazole (i.p., 90 mg/kg). The time taken before onset of clonic convulsions and percentage mortality was also recorded.
Maximal electroshock test
An alternating current stimulus of 50 Hz and 150 mA through bicorneal electrodes was delivered for 0.2 s to the experimental animals. A drop of 0.9% saline solution was poured into each eye prior to placing the electrodes. Duration of tonic convulsion (a tonic extension of the hind-limb) and percentage of mortality were recorded.
Maximum tolerated dose
Different doses of the extracts were injected intraperitoneally into the separated groups of four. After 24 hours, the highest dose that failed to induce any mortality was considered as the maximum tolerated dose.
Acute toxicity
Different doses of extracts were injected intraperitoneally into the separated groups of six mice. The number of deaths was counted at 48 hours after treatment and the LD50 values were calculated by the logit method.
Statistical analysis
Data were expressed as mean values ± SEM and tested with variance analysis followed by the multiple comparison test of Tukey-Kramer.
Results
The maximum non-fatal dose of the decoction and maceration extracts was 0.5 g/kg and 5 g/kg, and the LD50 values of the decoction and maceration extracts were 0.78 g/kg and 8.11 g/kg, respectively.
Intraperitoneal injection of both extracts increased the latency of the convulsions induced by PTZ according to dose, but failed to produce complete protection against mortality. The anticonvulsant activities of high dose extracts were similar to that of phenobarbital at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the PTZ test (Table 1).
In the maximal electroshock seizures, the aqueous extracts of seeds (at a dose of 0.5 g/kg) and the ethanolic extract (at doses of 3.5 and 5 g/kg) decreased the duration of tonic seizures by 22.30%, 30.43% and 36.96%, respectively (Table 2).
Discussion
The present results indicate that the aqueous and ethanolic seed extracts of C. sativum have anticonvulsant activity in the PTZ and maximal electroshock tests. In respect to the LD50 values, the aqueous extract was more toxic than the ethanolic extract. The reason for this higher toxicity is not clear and needs further investigation.
Compared with a toxicity classification13 , the ethanolic and aqueous extracts were mildly and moderately toxic, respectively. The aqueous leaf extract and ethanolic seed extract increased the latency of convulsion induced by PTZ by about 3-5 minutes, which was comparable to phenobarbital. Agents affecting on the PTZ test can inhibit petit-mal seizure14. Thus C. sativum seed extracts may have activity on this kind of seizure. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed activity against maximal electroshock seizures. This implies that the extracts have efficacy in grand mal seizure14.
The mechanism of the anticonvulsant effect of C. sativum is not clear. Anticonvulsant activity has been reported for cumarin compounds15, isolated from C. sativum11. Further investigation is required in order to clarify the anticonvulsant mechanism of this plant. It is concluded that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. sativum may show anticonvulsant activity against petit mal as well as grand mal seizures.
References