Assessment of neuropharmacological effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Pergularia daemia in migraine induced rat

Background: Migraine is a common neurological disorder. Pergularia daemia has reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. We evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of its ethanolic leaf extract (EEPD) in nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine in rats. Methods: Leaves were extracted with ethanol (Soxhlet), screened phytochemically and analysed by GC-MS. Thirty male Wistar rats formed five groups: normal control; disease control (NTG 10 mg/kg I.P., days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13); sumatriptan 1 mg/kg I.P.; and EEPD 200 or 400 mg/kg P.O. for 14 days plus NTG. Migraine-like behaviour was scored (maximum 16), brain nitrite was estimated with Griess reagent, and hippocampal histology was examined. Scores were analysed by ANOVA with Dunnett's test. Results: Yield was 28.78% w/w. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates and anthraquinone glycosides were detected; GC-MS tentatively identified 15 compounds, chiefly 3-O-acetyl-6-methoxy-cycloartenol (38.3% of area). The behavioural score was 9.40±0.24 in disease control versus 2.40±0.24 in normal control (p<0.0001), and 3.60±0.40 with sumatriptan, 2.80±0.49 and 2.60±0.24 with EEPD 200 and 400 mg/kg (all p<0.0001 versus disease control). Brain nitrite fell by 61% (sumatriptan), 26% and 29% (EEPD 200 and 400 mg/kg), although most values exceeded the calibration range and are qualitative. Disease-control hippocampus showed neuronal loss and degeneration; treated groups appeared normal. Conclusions: EEPD attenuated NTG-induced behavioural changes, brain nitrite elevation and hippocampal alterations in rats, supporting further mechanistic evaluation as an anti-migraine candidate.