Abstract Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting a significant number of adults and children around the world. Among the commonly used drugs for epilepsy are phenytoin, phenobarbitone, sodium valproate etc. These anticonvulsants need to be taken for a long duration and most of these produce side effects, which may affect the treatment of patients with epilepsy. Hence there is a need for other drugs with fewer side effects. Beta blocker Nebivololhas been studied by few researchers for its anticonvulsant activity but there is stilla paucity of data on the effect of nebivolol as an anticonvulsant. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of nebivolol alone and in combination with phenytoin and phenobarbitone in the Maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model in mice. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbaiover a 2 year period. Swiss Albino mice weighing between 18-30 grams and of either sex (n=36) were used for the study. Animals were randomly divided into six groups (Control, Phenytoin, Phenobarbitone, Nebivolol (NBV), NBV + Phenytoin and NBV + Phenobarbitone) according to the treatment given to each group. Maximal Electro Shock induced seizures (MES) model was used for giving the shock using electroconvulsiometer. Parameters calculated were Duration of Tonic Hind limb Extension (THE), percentage Abolition of Tonic Hind limb Extension and death incidence. One Way ANOVA with Tukey’s post HOC test were used for data analysis. Result(s): As compared to the control group (1% Tween 80), nebivolol (1 mg/kg), nebivolol (1 mg/kg) + phenytoin (12.5 mg/kg) and nebivolol (1 mg/kg) + phenobarbitone (5 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in the duration of tonic hindlimb extension. In the combination groups, this effect was comparable to that obtained with phenytoin (25 mg/kg) and phenobarbitone (10 mg/kg). Standard doses of Phenytoin (25 mg/kg) and phenobarbitone (10 mg/kg) caused abolition of the tonic hindlimb extension in 50 per cent and 33.33 per cent of the animals respectively, whereas nebivolol (1 mg/kg) + sub therapeutic dose of phenytoin (12.5 mg/kg) caused abolition in 16.66 per cent of the animals. Conclusion: The study concludes that nebivolol possesses anticonvulsant action alone and in combination with sub therapeutic doses of phenytoin and phenobarbitone when evaluated by the maximal electroshock seizures method in mice. More research is required to ascertain the mechanism of action of nebivolol and to detect the effects of nebivolol on the cognitive and motor functions.

Keywords: Epilepsy, Anticonvulsant, MES, Nebivolol, Phenytoin, Phenobarbitone.