Experimental study on antiepileptic action of Kousheyashma Bhasma

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of disturbance in movement, sensation and consciousness. With increased incidence rate of epilepsy, numbers of treatment modalities as well as formulations are being developed in recent years. In Ayurveda also many formulations are available for treatment of epilepsy. However, there is a search of formulations which can show quick and longstanding efficacy on epilepsy.

Kousheyashma is a mineral drug used in Ayurveda pharmaceutics. It is yellowish white and is identified as asbestos. Magnesium calcium and silicate are chief chemical entity of this drug. It is an easily and abundantly available mineral in India. The Bhasma is economic as the pharmaceutical processing of it is easy. In the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of this drug, it is mentioned that it has anti-epileptic activity. However there is no substantial evidence to prove the antiepileptic activity of Kousheyashma. Hence the present study is undertaken to experimentally evaluate the efficacy of Kousheyashma Bhasma in epilepsy.

Antiepileptic activity was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by two methods namely Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced seizure method and kindling PTZ induced seizure method. Mice selected based on exclusion and inclusion criteria were randomly allocated in to five groups. Mice were subjected for chemo convulsions by injecting PTZ intra peritoneal and observed for 35 minutes to analyze convulsion behaviors of mice

kousheyashma Bhasma has shown statistically significant result in PTZ induced epileptic symptoms in Swiss albino mice.