Effect of artesunate on maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in albino mice

Artemisinin-based combination therapies are highly efficacious, and they are now listed as first-line therapies for uncomplicated malaria in most countries where malaria is endemic. Neurotoxicity of artemisinins is a growing concern. However, no studies have reported its antiepileptic or epileptogenesis potential, hence the present study was undertaken to explore the activity of artesunate in experimentally induced seizures in rodent models. Artesunate at doses 36.4 and 72.8 mg/kg respectively significantly reduced the duration of the hind limb extensions (3.033±1.493 and 2.033±1.383, respectively) when compared to the control (P<0.0001) in the maximal electroshock-induced seizure model. However, no significant decrease was noted in the duration of clonic convulsions in a pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure model indicating lack of activity in petit mal epilepsy. The results of the present study indicate that artesunate at both the doses employed showed a significant anticonvulsant activity in the maximum electroshock-induced seizure model suggesting its potential utility in the management of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and partial seizures. Further studies regarding its mechanism of action are warranted.