Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) in albino rats

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. Ocimum sanctum (OS) (tulsi) has analgesic, anticancer, antiasthmatic, antidiabetic, antifertility, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune modulatory, and antistress properties. Aims and Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of OS and to compare the anticonvulsant effect with the standard sodium valproate in electrically and chemically induced epileptic animal models. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 albino rats (150-200 g) of male sex were randomly selected. They were divided into five groups (per model) of six rats each. Control group received normal saline (0.35 ml/100 g), standard group sodium valproate (300 mg/kg), and the test groups were given OS at three different doses (1.75, 4.25, and 8.5 mg/kg). The anticonvulsant activity was screened using maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. Results were analyzed by ANOVA followed by post-hoc turkey’s test. Results: The ethanolic extract of OS leaves at doses of 4.25 and 8.5 mg/kg has shown significant anticonvulsant by decreasing the duration of tonic hind limb extension activity in MES model and by prolonging the duration of seizure latency in PTZ model. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of OS leaves possess anticonvulsant activity which can be comparable with the standard sodium valproate.