Faith Isoken IRANUWEN

Epilepsy, a brain disorder associated with recurrent seizure. Although, epileptic drugs exist, about 30% of patient have drug-resistants or experience adverse effects, emphasizing the need for safer alternatives. Icacina trichantha Oliv.is a medicinal plant which belongs to the family Icacinaceae, used traditionally in the treatment of epilepsy. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting such claims. This study evaluates the anticonvulsant potential of I. trichantha.in mice. Fresh leaves were collected, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using 1:1 water and methanol solvent to obtain H-MLE of I. trichantha after concentrating to dryness. Phytochemical screening was carried out using Sofowara 1993 and Harborne 1973. For anticonvulsant activity, 25 mice were randomly allotted into 5 groups of n = 5 for both MES and PTZ induced seizures. Group I received 10 ml/kg deionized water, groups II – IV received
graded doses of the plant extract 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and group 5 received 100 mg/kg phenobarbitone for MES and 5 mg/kg diazepam for PTZ and was observed for the presence of seizures. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, phenolics, saponins, and carbohydrates. Results obtained revealed that H-MLE had a significant P < 0.001 at 400 mg/kg in onset of seizure and P < 0.0001 at 400 mg/kg in duration of seizure in the PTZ induced seizure. However, there was no significant result P > 0.05 in the MES. This study supports its use in the treatment of epilepsy in traditional medicine which could be due to presence of secondary metabolites.