Potential antiepileptic drug from KK28R1 endophytic extract / Norazah Shaari

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that can affect all ages of people around the world. Most patients cannot tolerate antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) due to the side effects and toxicities. In this study, KK28Rl endophytic extract from the local source was used to observe its potential as an AED using a picrotoxin-induced convulsion model in mice. This study determined the median lethal dose (LD50) of KK28Rl in mice. In the LD50 procedure, six doses of KK28Rl crude extract (20mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, and 0.001 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (i.p) injected into six different groups (five mice in each group) with one control group. Arithmetic Method of Karbar was used to determine the LD50. From the LD50 result, three acute doses of KK28Rl endophytic extract (20mg/kg, 10mg/kg and 5mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected into the mice (five mice in each group) 10 minutes prior to the administration of 10mgmg/kg of picrotoxin to induce seizure. A positive control group of 25 mg/kg of phenobarbital (i.p.) and a negative control group 10mg/kg normal saline (i.p.) was prepared. From the acute dose, 10mgmg/kg of sub-chronic dose of KK28Rl was administered into the mice (five mice in a group) for 14 days. On the 14th day, 10 minutes after the administration of the extract, 10mg/kg of picrotoxin was intraperitoneally injected into the mice. The results showed that the KK28Rl endophytic extract has a potential use as an antiepileptic drug. KK28Rl endophytic extract has shown effects by delaying the onset of convulsion, peak of convulsion and the time of death. Hence, the study may lead to the discovery of a new antiepileptic drug from endophytic extract which is natural and from the local source.