Pharmacological evaluation of the effects of aqueous nut extract of Cyperus esculentus (Tiger nut) on convulsive episodes and anxiety-like behaviors in mice

Patients with convulsive disease exhibit disorders as anxiety, which further impairs their quality of life and productivity. Despite the availability of anticonvulsant drugs, most patients in Africa for several reasons, still depend largely on herbal medicines as alternative forms of therapy for epilepsy. This study investigates the effect of the aqueous extract of Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) on convulsive episodes and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Male mice were pretreated orally with the extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), diazepam (1.0 mg/kg), 30 min before induction of convulsions with pentylenetetrazole (100 mg/kg) or isoniazid (300 mg/kg). The mice were then observed for the onset of convulsions for 30 min for pentylenetetrazole, and two hours for isoniazid. A new set of mice was divided into five groups and was given diazepam and the extract (50-200 mg/kg). Thirty minutes later, the mice were evaluated for anxiety-like behaviors. The extract exhibited protective effect against convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, and against isoniazid at 50 mg/kg as evidenced by increased latency to sezuires and reduced number of mice that had convulsions. The extract also demonstrated anxiolytic-like activity in the light/dark box and elevated plus maze tests when compared with the controls. These findings suggest that C. esculentus exhibited anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like activities in mice, and might be relevance in improving the quality of life of persons compromised by epilepsy.