Anticonvulsant Effect of Ferula Gummosa Root Extract against Experimental Seizures

In Iranian traditional medicine, there are some report regarding the anticonvulsant effect of Ferula gummosa Boiss. In this study, anticonvulsant activity, neurological deficits and lethality of the root acetone extract of this plant were evaluated in mice. The extract exhibited dose-dependent prevention of tonic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (ED50 = 154.4 mg/kg). However, the extract produced sedation and motor impairment with TD50 value of 546 mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids and a little amount of cardenolids in the extract. It seems that the anticonvulsant and neurotoxic effects of the extract is related in part to the terpenoid compounds. The acceptable protective index of the extract (3.5) recommends further studies on Ferula gummosa