Anticonvulsant Effects of Cocos nucifera Water in Pentylenetetrazol Induced Seizures in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures resulting from abnormal neuronal activity. Although antiepileptic drugs are effective for many patients, their adverse effects and limited accessibility in some settings continue to encourage the search for safer complementary agents. This study evaluated the anticonvulsant potential of Cocos nucifera water in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in Wistar rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6): control, Cocos nucifera water (5 ml/kg), Cocos nucifera water (10 ml/kg), and diazepam (5 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for 14 days, after which PTZ (70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was used to induce seizures. Seizure onset, seizure duration, mortality rate and body weight were recorded. Compared with the control group, Cocos nucifera water significantly reduced seizure duration in a dose-related manner, with the 10 ml/kg group showing greater effect than the 5 ml/kg group. Mortality was also reduced in the treated groups, while diazepam provided complete protection in this model. Animals receiving Cocos nucifera water showed normal weight gain during the study period. These findings suggest that Cocos nucifera water may have anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizures in rats. The observed effects may be related to its antioxidant constituents and electrolyte content, although these mechanisms were not directly examined in the present study. Further studies using larger samples, seizure models and mechanistic assessments are needed to confirm and better characterize these preliminary findings.