Objective: To investigate the effect of saikosaponin alpha (SSalpha) on experimental epilepsy in rats.
Methods: Acute epileptic seizure was induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in rats, and the seizure incubation period and the number of rats with tetanic convulsion were recorded to study the antiepileptic effect of SSalpha.
Results: After treatment with SSalpha, the incubation period of PTZ-induced seizure was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), and the rate of tetanic convulsion was significantly reduced (P<0.05).
Conclusion: SSalpha can inhibit epileptic seizure induced by PTZ.