Anticonvulsant Potential and Network Pharmacology Analysis of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr

The present study evaluated the anticonvulsant property of hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (Allspice), a plant known for its diverse biological properties. Phytochemical screening and ATR-IR spectral analysis confirmed the presence of various metabolites, including flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and carbohydrates. The acute toxicity study revealed no toxic effects and/or mortality at 2000 mg/kg, suggesting a favorable safety profile of the extract. The extract was administered orally, followed by evaluation in maximal electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure models. A significant anticonvulsant effect was observed, with 83.3% protection in MES model and notably increasing latency to seizure onset in the PTZ-induced convulsions. GC-MS profiling identified 275 phytocompounds, of which 66 were selected for network pharmacological analysis. This revealed 717 overlapping targets between the selected compounds and epilepsy-related targets. Network pharmacological study suggested AKT1 as a hub gene, and the anticonvulsant effects may be mediated through multiple molecular interactions. Molecular interaction study further supported that the constituents, particularly furaneol, may modulate AKT1 activity through key residue interactions, as observed with the co-crystallized ligand. Overall, the findings support the potential of P. dioica leaf in convulsion, and further work is warranted to explore the active chemicals responsible for the observed activity.