Based on this preclinical study, one can ascertain that ivabradine dose-dependently increased the threshold for MEST-induced seizures, suggesting the antiseizure activity of the compound in this seizure model in mice.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of N-(m-bromoanilinomethyl)- p-isopropoxyphenylsuccinimide (BAM-IPPS - a new succinimide derivative) on the protective action of four classical antiepileptic drugs (AEDs: carbamazepine [CBZ], phenobarbital [PB], phenytoin [PHT] and valproate [VPA]) in the mouse maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic seizure model. Tonic hind limb extension (seizure activity) was evoked in adult male albino Swiss mice by a current (sine-wave, 25 mA, 500 V, 50 Hz, 0.2 s stimulus duration) delivered via ear-clip electrodes. BAM-IPPS administered (i.p.) at a dose of 150 mg/kg significantly elevated the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice (P<0.05). Lower doses of BAM-IPPS (50 and 100 mg/kg) had no significant impact on the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice. Moreover, BAM-IPPS (100 mg/kg) did not significantly affect the anticonvulsant potency of CBZ, PB, PHT and VPA in the mouse MES model. BAM-IPPS elevated the threshold for electroconvulsions in mice in a dosedependent manner. However, BAM-IPPS (100 mg/kg) did not affect the anticonvulsant action of various classical AEDs in the mouse MES model, making the combinations of BAM-IPPS with CBZ, PB, PHT and VPA neutral, from a preclinical point of view.

Introduction and objective: The study was aimed at performing the anticonvulsant screening test to select some naturally occurring substances isolated from herbs and medicinal plants that could suppress seizures in the maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic seizure model in mice. Materials and methods: The screening test was performed for 10 natural substances (alizarin, betulin, curcumin, diosmin, linalool, menthofuran, α-terpineol, theobromine, β-thujaplicin and vanillin) administered intraperitoneally in a constant dose of 300 mg/kg at various pre-treatment times (15, 30, 60 and 120 min.) before the MES test. Results: Only α-terpineol and vanillin produced a 12.5% protection against MES-induced tonic seizures in mice, when administered i.p. at 120 and 60 min., prior to the MES test, respectively. In contrast, the remaining substances (alizarin, betulin, curcumin, diosmin, linalool, menthofuran, theobromine and β-thujaplicin) produced no anti-convulsant activity after their i.p. administration to mice. Conclusions: α-Terpineol and vanillin are worth considering as potentially favorable compounds in experimental epileptology.

The aim of this study was to perform the anticonvulsant screening test to select some naturally occurring substances isolated from herbs and medicinal plants that could offer a distinct protection against maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic seizures in mice. The screening test was performed for 12 substances (i.e., arbutin, borneol, esculetin, esculin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, hesperidine, piperitol, piperonal, quercetin, thymoquinone and ursolic acid) administered intraperitoneally in a constant dose of 300 mg/kg at various pretreatment times (i.e., 15, 30, 60 and 120 min.) before the MES test. Results indicate that only borneol produced a 75% protection against MES-induced tonic seizures in mice, when administered i.p. at 15 min. prior to the MES test. Borneol administered i.p. at 30 min before the MES test protected a 37.5% of animals tested, whereas the compound administered i.p. at 60 min. prior to the test exerted barely a 12.5% protection against MES-induced tonic seizures. In contrast, borneol administered i.p. at 120 min. prior to the test produced no anticonvulsant activity in mice subjected to the MES test. The remaining substances tested in the mouse MES model (i.e., arbutin, esculetin, esculin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, hesperidine, piperitol, piperonal, quercetin and ursolic acid) exerted no or negligible anti-seizure activity after their i.p. administration to mice. In conclusion, borneol is worthy of consideration as a potentially favorable compound in epileptology, if the results from this study could be extrapolated into clinical settings.

Introduction and objective. The aim of this study was to perform the anticonvulsant screening test to determine whether two sesquiterpene lactones (alantolactone and isoalantolactone) isolated from herbs and medicinal plants offer a distinct protection against maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic seizures in mice. Materials and methods. The screening test was performed for alantolactone and isoalantolactone administered intraperitoneally in a constant dose of 300 mg/kg at 4 various pretreatment times (i.e., 15, 30, 60 and 120 min.) before the MES test. Tonic hind limb extension (seizure activity) was evoked in adult male albino Swiss mice by a current (sine-wave, 25 mA, 500 V, 50 Hz, 0.2 s stimulus duration) delivered via ear-clip electrodes. Subsequently, the median effective doses (ED 50 values) for alantolactone and isoalantolactone were determined in the MES test in mice. Results. In the screening test, both compounds produced a 37.5% protection against MES-induced tonic seizures in mice, when administered i.p. at 15 min. prior to the MES test. In contrast, alantolactone and isoalantolactone administered i.p. at 30, 60 and 120 min. prior to the test produced no anticonvulsant activity in mice subjected to the MES test. The experimentallyderived ED 50 values for alantolactone and isoalantolactone, administered intraperitoneally at 15 min. before the MES test, were 322 (281-369) mg/kg and 336 (285-396) mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions. Alantolactone and isoalantolactone (2 sesquiterpene lactones) are worth considering as potentially favourable compounds in epileptology, if the results from this study could be extrapolated into clinical settings.