Moses B. Ekong, Senior Lecturer and a researcher at the University of Uyo, Nigeria has discovered a potential treatment plant for Epilepsy.
A plant that grows in Nigeria shows promise as the source of a new drug for epilepsy. Tetrapleura tetraptera also known as aidan and uyayak, is a tree found in the West African rainforest belt. Its fruit gives a characteristic aromatic odour, making it a sought-after spice in some Nigerian dishes.
“Our research into the plant found that an extract of its fruit could protect against seizure and prevent brain degeneration. It could therefore be studied further for the development of a new antiepileptic.”
Moses B. Ekong
Meanwhile, to test the plant’s properties, the researcher noted that “we induced sustained seizure in laboratory animals and gave the fruit extract to some of the animals. We gave a standard antiepileptic drug, sodium valproate, to another group of animals.”
Mr Ekong also stated that he and his team have found useful properties in the plant’s phytochemicals – the compounds it produces. Phytochemicals, also called secondary metabolites, are the active constituents of such plants. These include tannins, phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids and terpenoids. Metabolites help the body to withstand stress, overcome cell injury and fight against germs, among other functions.
However, he explains that the ratios of these phytochemicals to one another determine the unique properties of plants. Aidan is rich in phenols, alkaloids and flavonoids. These phytochemicals are responsible for the antioxidant properties of plants known to protect against metabolic stress. Metabolic stress often leads to a spectrum of disease conditions.
Aidan is also a source of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and vitamins. This makes the plant very useful nutritionally and medicinally. He observed that the aidan extract prevented the manifestation of seizure just like the sodium valproate.
He further pointed out that epilepsy causes brain cell degeneration. “But we found that aidan protected the animals’ brains against degeneration better than the sodium valproate.”
Meanwhile, Neurodegenerative diseases cause the brain and nerves to deteriorate over time. They can change personality and cause confusion. They can also destroy brain tissue and nerves.
What next?
Mr Ekong averred that their findings are important, as the potentials of this plant can be explored for antiepileptic drug development. He also said that as a natural product, the plant does not only possess antiepileptic activity. He said it has numerous constituents that may also serve as alternative medication or an addition to medications in other related disease conditions.
Clinical trials of either crude or pure samples can be undertaken for anti-epileptic drug development as a first phase of clinical utilization of the plant.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that arises from imbalances of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. This disorder manifests as recurring seizures, unconsciousness, and momentary loss of memory. These events are frequent and unpredictable. The burden of epilepsy in Africa is high. Active epilepsy was estimated to affect 4.4 million people in Sub–Saharan Africa.
Moreover, epilepsy is a serious condition and it can be difficult to find the right drug to treat it. Some commonly used antiepileptic drugs may show adverse effects. Most are expensive, and some may be ineffective.
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