Preliminary phytochemical screening, acute oral toxicity and anticonvulsant activity of the berries of solanum nigrum linn

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the preliminary phytochemical properties, acute oral toxicity and anticonvulsant activity of the berries of Solanum nigrum Linn. (S. nigrum). Phytochemicals from the ethanol berry extract were screened by standard methods. Acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 425 guidelines while anticonvulsant activity was evaluated against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- induced seizure in mice. The effect of the extract at dose levels of 50, 100, 200 and 30 0 mg/kg body weight was evaluated in an experimental mice model, using phenobarbital as positive control (100 mg/kg p.o). Phytochemical screening revealed that the berries of S. nigrum contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and alkaloids. The oral median lethal dose of the extract was 3129 mg/kg body weight. The extract significantly delayed the latency of convulsion (p ޒ 0.05 ) in PTZ-induced seizure mice in at the dose of 300 mg/kg p.o.The extract also reduced the frequency of convulsion which can be neglectable and provided significant (300 mg/kg p.o) protection against death up to 100 %. The results obtained in this study suggest that the ethanol berry extract of Solanum nigrum is safe and possesses anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizure mice. Keywords: Solanum nigrum, phytochemical, anticonvulsant, pentylenetetrazole, lethal dose, acute toxicity.