ANTIEPILEPTIC POTENTIAL OF ACACIA SEYAL: AN ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY"

Acacia seyal Del., a tree species prevalent in semi-arid African zones and widely used in traditional medicine, is reputed for its therapeutic applications including the treatment of epilepsy. This study was designed to scientifically validate the anti-epileptic potential of Acacia seyal stem bark extracts using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), strychnine, and lidocaine-induced convulsion models in Wistar rats. Stem bark of Acacia seyal was sourced and authenticated in Maiduguri, Nigeria, and subjected to sequential extraction using n-hexane and ethanol. Graded doses of the extracts were tested against PTZ (65 mg/kg, s.c.), strychnine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), and lidocaine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) induced convulsions and compared to sodium valproate (200 mg/kg, i.p.) as standard. Both extracts demonstrated significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent anticonvulsant activities, with n-hexane extract showing superior efficacy over ethanol extract. The n-hexane extract effectively suppressed seizures induced by PTZ, strychnine, and lidocaine, suggesting its activity may involve GABAergic modulation, glycine receptor agonism, or inhibition of ionic conductance crucial for seizure propagation. These findings provide scientific evidence supporting the ethnomedicinal use of Acacia seyal in epilepsy management and highlight its potential as a source of novel antiepileptic agents