ANTICONVULSANT ACTION OF WITHANIA-SOMNIFERA (ASWAGANDA) ROOT EXTRACT AGAINST PENTYLENETETRAZOL-INDUCED KINDLING IN MICE

Repeated administration of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 30 mg/kg, thrice a week for 9 weeks) produced chemical kindling when mice were challenged with a subconvulsive dose of the convulsant, These animals were also found to be susceptible to seizures after a subconvulsant dose of a be ta-carboline, (FG 7142, 20 mg/kg). Withania somnifera root extract (10 0 mg/kg) offered a significant protection against PTZ-induced chemical kindling, and the effect was comparable to diazepam (1 mg/kg). The pr otective effect of W. womnifera appears to involve GABAergic mediation .