The Influence of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Polypodium vulgare L. on Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures and Its Comparison with the Impact of Sodium Valproate in a Rat Model

Objective: Epilepsy affects over 1% of the global population. Polypodium vulgare L. has emerged in studies, suggesting its potential antiepileptic effect. This study evaluated the anticonvulsant efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract of Polypodium vulgare L. in a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model in rats. This research aimed to determine the optimal dosage for delaying seizure onset and reducing seizure severity. This study investigated whether the active compounds offer a viable alternative for epilepsy management, mainly through their potential interaction with GABAergic mechanisms. Methods: We randomly selected four groups of 10 and 2 groups of 8 male Wistar laboratory rats. The reference and control groups received PTZ and distilled water, respectively. In contrast, experimental groups 1 and 2 received the hydroalcoholic extract of Polypodium vulgare L. at doses of 300 and 500 mg per kg of body weight. Experimental groups 3 and 4 received 150 and 300 mg per kg dose.Chemical kindling was induced in all groups via intraperitoneal injection of PTZ. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 software. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of Polypodium vulgare L. exerted a pronounced mitigating effect on convulsions induced by PTZ administration, specifically at a dosage of 300 mg/kg of body weight. It effectively prolonged the time necessary for seizure onset. Conclusion: The administration of a 300 mg dose of the hydroalcoholic extract of Polypodium vulgare L. demonstrated superior efficacy compared with its 500 mg counterpart and both the 300 and 150 mg doses of sodium valproate in addressing PTZ-induced epilepsy. The results suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of Polypodium vulgare L. has promise as an effective treatment for epilepsy.