Evaluation of Phytochemicals and Anti-Epileptic Activity of Cannabis Sativa Leaves

ABSTRACTEpilepsy refers second most chronic, non-communicable brain disorder and ismainly characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures, uncontrolled electrical signallingfrom neurons in cerebral cortex. The present study was based on the evaluation ofphytochemicals and anti-epileptic activity of Cannabis sativa. The leaves of Cannabis sativawere obtained from the Varanasi region. These were identified and authenticated by abotanist. The leaves will make dust free & dried in shade at room temp. and extracted usingethanol through maceration process. Mice of either sex that were albino and weighed between30-40g were taken from the Saraswati Higher Education and Technical College of Pharmacy,Gahni, Ayar, Varanasi. Mice were divided into 5 group; group I: administered only normalsaline, group II: administered given Valproic acid (150mg/kg), group III: administeredValproic acid (150mg/kg) + PTZ (80mg/kg), group 4: administered PTZ (80mg/kg) +Cannabis sativa extract (low dose) and group 5: administered PTZ (80mg/kg) + Cannabissativa extract (high dose) once a day up to 21 days. It showed a rich source ofphytochemicals in preliminary screening. The anti-epileptic potential of Cannabis sativa wasevaluated through following models behavioural, biochemical, neurotransmitter levels andhistopathological studies. In results, group 4 & 5 exhibited the Glutathione (GSH) level as5.51±1.30 μM/μg of protein and 4.47±1.24 μM/μg of protein, respectively which observedsignificant when compared with control group- 7.35±1.22 μM/μg of protein. It concluded thatCannabis sativa has anti-epileptic property that might be due to presence of flavonoids &terpenoids. It suggests to isolate the responsible moiety.