Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill and Perr ameliorates pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure/cognitive impairment in rats via inhibition of oxidative stress

The study investigates the role of Anogeissus leiocarpus methanol stem bark extract (ALSE) on seizure, oxidative stress and cognitive performance in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy in rat model. Thirty Wistar rats were allocated into five groups (n = 6). Groups 1 and 2 received normal saline intra-peritoneal (i.p) every day and PTZ (i.p) at 35 mg/kg every other day respectively. Groups 3–5 were given ALSE orally at (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) and Diazepam at 4 mg/kg (i.p) respectively. Groups 3–5 were given PTZ (i.p) at 35 mg/kg every other day for 30 days, 30 min after ALSE and Diazepam administration. The rats were observed for seizure activities and also evaluated for cognitive functions. The rats were euthanized thereafter and the brain histology and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. PTZ induction resulted into increased seizure activities leading to the development of kindling, oxidative stress, cognitive impairment and histological aberration of the hippocampus. However, pretreatment with ALSE decreased seizure activities, reversed oxidative stress and cognitive impairment and preserved hippocampal histology relative to the PTZ alone treated rats. Conclusively, ALSE was found to increase seizure latency, prevented cognitive decline, and decreased seizure activities induced by PTZ-kindling in rats. Additionally, ALSE ameliorates PTZ-induced oxidative stress and histological aberrations of the hippocampus. Hence, this study proposed that ALSE might be a promising tool for ameliorating seizure in epilepsy.