Tannins are water-soluble phenolic
compounds found in plants which have the ability to
form complexes with nutritionally important nutrients
such as proteins and minerals. In view of the recent
findings of the health benefits and classification of
tannin, this study focused on assessing how plant tannin
can affect or change behavioural patterns using animals
exposed to pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) –induced convulsion
and also compare the inhibitory role of tannin in
astrocytosis. Forty nine adult male wistar rats in seven
groups were used for this study. Group 1,the normal
control group was given growers feed and appropriate
volume of Normal saline, group 2 was given 5mg/kg of
PTZ only, Groups 3, 4,5 & 6 were given tannin
(100mg/kg,200mg.kg, 400mg.kg & 400mg/kg
respectively) and 5mg/kg (single dose) of PTZ while
group 7 (positive control group) was given 2.4mg/kg of
tegretol (a control drug for convulsion) and 8.2mg/kg of
PTZ. Tannin was administered orally to animals in
groups 3, 4, 5 (Pre-treatment groups) and 6 for 20 days.
On the 18th day of administration, PTZ administration
commenced to the 20th day. Findings from this study
showed that 100mg/kg and 400mg/kg of tannin had anti-
convulsive properties in response to PTZ –induced
convulsion, and also reduced the rate of astrocytosis in
the temporal lobe. Tannin also elicited anxiolytic traits
as animals pre-treated with tannin spent some time in
the open arm of the EPM. Thus, tannin inhibited
astrocytosis, protected neurons, reduced convulsion
duration and has the potential of reducing rate of
anxiety in rodents.
Keywords : Pentylenetetrazol, anxiety, astrocyte, tannin, convulsion.