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Abstract
The bioassay-guided fractionation of dried flowers of Butea monosperma (BM) was carried
out to isolate the active principle responsible for its anticonvulsant activity. The
petroleum ether extract was fractionated by column chromatography using solvents of
varying polarity such as n-hexane, n-hexane:ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and methanol.
The anticonvulsive principle of B. monosperma was found to be a triterpene (TBM) present
in the n-hexane:ethyl acetate (1:1) fraction of the petroleum ether extract. TBM exhibited
anticonvulsant activity against seizures induced by maximum electroshock (MES) and
its PD(50) was found to be 34.2+/-18.1 mg/kg. TBM also inhibited seizures induced
by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), electrical kindling, and the combination of lithium sulfate
and pilocarpine nitrate (Li-Pilo). However, TBM was not effective against seizures
induced by strychnine and picrotoxin. TBM exhibited depressant effect on the central
nervous system. After repeated use for 7 days, the PD(50) (MES) of TBM increased to
51.5+/-12.1 mg/kg. Similarly, after repeated use of TBM, the duration of sleep induced
by pentobarbital was not reduced significantly. Further studies are required to investigate
its usefulness in the treatment of epilepsy.