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Preliminary screening of a classical unani formulation majoonnajah for anticonvulsant activity
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| Author:
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ZEBA AFRIN, AISHA SIDDIQUI, M.A JAFRI, DIVYA VOHORA, M ASIF
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| Abstract:
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Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent
seizures. Currently available antiepileptic drugs are synthetic compounds and have limited efficacy and their
major side effects limit their use and cause difficulties in patient management. A classical semisolid formulation
MajoonNajah (MN) (containing seven plant parts i.e. TerminaliachebulaRetz., TerminaliabellericaRoxb.,
EmblicaofficinalisGaertn., OperculinaturpethumLinn., PolypodiumvulgareLinn.,CuscutareflexaRoxb., Lavandulastoechas
Mill.) is mentioned in Unani system of medicine (part of AYUSH) as antiepileptic. MN has been used as an
effective holistic treatment of convulsive disorders like Malikholia (melancholia), Sara (epilepsy),
Ikhtenaqurraham(hysteria), Junoon (schizophrenia) since decades. Most of the plants present in MN have been
experimentally reported to ameliorate convulsions. But no experimental study has been carried out on the
formulation MN for its anticonvulsant activity. It is reported that most of the antiepileptic drugs cause ataxia
and adverse effects on cognition and behaviour. So it is important to screen the effect of any anticonvulsant
drug on muscle co-ordination.
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of the classical formulation MajoonNajah
(MN) in Increased Current Electroshock and Pentylenetetrazole induced convulsions in mice. To evaluate the
effect of test drug on motor co-ordination, muscle co-ordination test by rotarod was carried out.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, a classical formulation (MajoonNajah) was developed as
mentioned in classical text. Two new dosage forms with the ingredients of classical formulation MajoonNajah
i.e. hydroalcoholic extract (HEMN) and sugar free granules (GMN) were developed using soxhlet’s extractor
and wet granulation technique respectively. All the three dosage forms were evaluated for the anticonvulsant
activity using Increased Current Electroshock and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsions in mice.
Statistical comparison was done by One way ANOVA followed by Dunett’s t Test.
Results: The obtained results showed that the classical formulation MajoonNajah(MN) and its two developed
dosage forms i.e. hydroalcoholic extract (HEMN) and sugar free granules (GMN) had a protective role on
epilepsy. Treatment with MN, HEMN aand GMN significantly increased the seizure threshold current when
compared with control in ICES test. Moreover, MN, HEMN and GMN significantly increased the latency of
myoclonic jerks and clonic generalized seizures when compared with control in Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) test.
The conventional polyhherbal formulation MajoonNajah, its hydroalcoholic extract and sugar free granules, all
these forms did not produce any motor inco-ordination during rotarod test.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that classical formulation MajoonNajah might have possible efficacy in the
treatment of epilepsy and it is safer than conventional antiepileptic drugs.
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| Keyword:
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Epilepsy, unani, formulation, pentylenetetrazole, mice
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| EOI:
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| DOI:
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https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2019.11.04.026
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