Antiepileptic effect of vitamin E on kainic acid-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in rats

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease with the prevalence of around one percent. Despite the introductions of several anti-epileptic drugs, around 1/3 of epileptic patients are resistant to the anti-epileptic medications. Considering the evidence regarding the anti-oxidant action of Vitamin E and its beneficiary effect in the treatment of epilepsy, we investigated the anti-convulsive effect of Vitamin E in a rat model of kainic acid-induced epilepsy. Forty male rats were divided to five groups [sham, Vit E, epileptic, epileptic treated with Vit E and epileptic treated with valproic acid]. Epilepsy was induced by intra hippocampal injection of 4 microgram of kainic acid. Rats receiving daily intraperitoneal injections of Vit E [100 mg/kg] or valproic acid [200 mg/kg] in the week preceding the surgery. Intensity of epileptic convulsions was graded using Racine's criteria. No convulsions were observed in the sham-Vit E groups. Widespread convulsions were observed in the kainic acid-treated group. Intensity of convulsions were significantly reduced in the epileptic rats receiving either Vit E or valproic acid [P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively]. Pre-treatment with Vit E decreases the convulsion intensity in kainic acid-induced epilepsy in rats

Antiepileptic and antioxidant effect of brassica nigra on pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling in mice

Considering the high rate of epilepsy today, with respect to the insufficiency of the available therapies, new strategies and methods are recommended for medical treatment of epileptic patients. Therefore, the present study experimentally investigated the anticonvulsant effect of a herbal medicine candidate brassica nigra, by using kindling method. Sixty male mice were randomly selected and divided into six experimental groups [n = 10] including: 1-control, 2-pentylentetrazole [PTZ]-kindled mice, 3-positive control group received valproate [100 mg/Kg] as anti-convulsant drug, 4-5 and 6 received brassica nigra seed extract in three doses [75, 150 and 300 mg/Kg; IP]. All groups except for the control ones were kindled by 11 period injections of PTZ [35 mg/Kg; IP]. In the 12th injection, all groups except for the control group were tested for PTZ challenge dose [75 mg/Kg]. However, the exhibited phases of seizure [0-6] were observed and noted till 30 min after the PTZ injection. At last, the brains of all the mice were removed and then malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and nitric oxide [NO] levels of the brain tissues were determined. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the seed extract could reduce the intensity, improvement and duration of seizure. In addition, the brassica nigra extract increased the SOD and NO levels and decreased the MDA level in the brain tissues. Attained results show that the extract of Brassica nigra seed can be used in grand mal seizure treatment. Moreover, the antiepileptic effect of this extract is probably caused by its antioxidant properties and acts via enzyme activity mechanism

[ effect of aqueous Crocus sativus L. [saffron] extract on learning and memory in male streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus is accompanied with disturbances in learning, memory, and cognitive skills in the human society and experimental animals. Considering the potential anti-diabetic effect of the medicinal plant Crocus sativus [Saffron] and the augmenting effect of its consumption on the memory and mental health, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chronic interaperitoneal administration of Crocus.S extract on learning and memory in diabetic rats. In this experimental study a total of 60 male rats were divided into normal and diabetic groups. Then, each of these groups was divided into three subgroups. Two of these subgroups received 30 and 60 mg/kg crocus.s extract in the treatment periods, but the third group didn't receive any treatment. At the end of treatment period, each of these subgroups was evaluated by two ways: Ymaze [alternative behavior percentage] and shuttle box [initial latencies [IL] and step-through latencies [STL]] in passive avoidance test. Finally, obtained data were subjected to one way ANOVA test and post hoc Tokey analysis. Treatment of the diabetic animals with the extract could antagonized the augmenting effect of diabetics on initial latency [P< 0.05]. Also, treatment of the diabetic rats with the extract [60 mg/kg] increased the reduced step through latency time [recall of the data] induced by diabetic in the animals [P< 0.05]. However, obtained data from Y maze test show that the extract could not improved the spatial memory disruption due to diabetics. Chronic Crocus.S injection is effective on the capability of maintaining information in the stores memory and reminding in the diabetic rats. However, the extract could not improve the spatial memory in the diabetic rats

[Anti-convulsant effect of alcoholic hyoscyamus niger L seed extract on PTZ model of kindling in male mice]

Regarding the prevalence of epilepsy in human society and with respect to inefficiency of the usual treatments, finding new strategies and methods for the medical treatment of epileptic patients are essential. Henbane seed has been used in Iranian traditional medicine as an anti-convulsion herb. With this regard the present study was carried out to consider the anti-convulsive effect of Henbane seed extract on the chemical kindling-induced convulsion. The present experimental study has been conducted at Medical Faculty of Shahed University in 2009. Sixty male mice have been chosen randomly and divided into 5 experimental groups including 12 mice in each group as follows: 1-control group receiving only Pentylene tetrazole [PTZ], 2[nd], 3[rd] and 4[th] experimental groups received alcoholic extract of henbane seed in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes before PTZ injection and 5[th] group was positive control that received valproic acid 100 mg/kg 30 minutes before PTZ injection. Chemical kindling was performed in all of them by a total of 11 treatments with intraperitoneal injection of PTZ 35 mg/kg at every 48 hours. In the 12[th] injection all groups were tested for PTZ challenge dose [75 mg/kg]. Mice were observed 30 minutes after the last injection to detect convulsion. Data analysis was carried out by One way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests. Data analysis shows that administration of henbane seed extract had an inhibitory effect on the steps, progression and duration of seizure, especially in the last steps of convulsion. However, therapy with henbane seed extract resulted in an efficient anticonvulsive effect from the 8[th] injection reaching the highest level of efficiency at the 12[th] step [p<0.001]. The results obtained from the present study showed that alcoholic Hyoscyamus niger seed extract could have markedly alleviated PTZ-induced seizure phases in male mice. Also, the extract at 100 mg/kg significantly increased and reduced the threshold and duration of 5th seizure phase

[Effects of alcoholic extract of Zingiber officinalis rhizome on acute and chronic inflammation and pain in rats]

Patients with chronic, painful diseases often seek alternative therapy. The rhizome of Zingiber [Z] officinalis is a common constituent of diets around the world and its extracts have been reported to exhibit several pharmacological activities. We investigated the effects of alcoholic Zingiber oficinalis rhizome extract on two different models of acute and chronic inflammation and pain. Formalin, xylen and acetic acid were used to induce acute inflammation in paw, ear and peritoneum, respectively. The amount of Evans' blue dye leakage into these tissues was used as an index of acute inflammation. For chronic inflammation, a piece of sterile cotton [30 mg] was impalnated into the groin region for a period of seven days. Following, the weight of the cotton piece before implanted is subtracted from the weight of the dried piece and used as an index of chronic inflammation. Finally, acute and chronic pain assessment was carried out via the formalin test protocol. In acute inflammation model, the formalin-induced inflammation in paw and peritoneum was significantly [P<0.05] reduced by the extract of Z. oficinalis rhizome at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Also, the extract at the dose of 400mg/kg significantly [P<0.05] reduced the paw diameter. In chronic inflammation model, the extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg significantly [P<0.01] dimished inflammation. Finally, both acute and chronic pain significantly [P<0.05] suppressed by the extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg. Findings of this study indicate that alcoholic extract of Z. oficinalis has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. Thus, using the extract of Z. oficinalis could be a potential alternative therapy in ameliorating inflammation and pain in patients suffering from chronic diseases