Proconvulsant effects of Nepeta menthoides hydro alcoholic extract in different seizure tests: behavioral and biochemical studies

Abstract

In Iran, both Nepeta menthoides-the endemic species of Nepeta genus-and Lavandula officinalis are known as Ustukhuddoos and used widely as medicinal herbs. In Iranian traditional medicine, Ustukhuddoos has been recommended for several neuronal diseases including depression and epilepsy. While the antiepileptic effects of Lavandula officinalis have been investigated in a number of studies, no reports are available taking into account the effect of Nepeta menthoides on epilepsy. Since convulsion is an important side effect of some medicinal plants, a thorough study of the effects of Nepeta menthoides on epilepsy seems necessary. This study was designed to investigate the potential anti-or pro-convulsant activity of Nepeta menthoides and its effects on oxidative stress markers. Since an herbal medicine showed opposite effects in two animal models of epilepsy in our laboratory, authers decided to study Nepeta effects through several seizure tests including the intravenous pentylenetetrazol (i.v. PTZ) infusion, the maximal electroshock (MES), acute PTZ and PTZ-kindling tests. These seizure models are generally used for screening pro-or anti-epileptic drugs. Nepeta menthoides (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the dose of PTZ necessary for clonus seizure induction. Combining either phenytoin (Phen) or Valproate (Val) with Nepeta decreased their antiepileptic effects. Therefore, Nepeta menthoides not only failed to prevent the seizures but also increased sensitivity to them. Nepeta raised brain NO levels in different seizure tests. It seems there is a relation between NO elevation by Nepeta and increased sensitivity to seizures that should be investigated later.

Role of Terpenoids Active Ingredients Targeting for Neuroprotective Agents

“…The rough eye phenotype (REP), which is induced by A42, is one way in which the severity of neurotoxicity and the presence of Alzheimer's disease can be determined [105]. The results of the inquiry into REP suggested that flies fed with limonene had eased REP in a manner that was comparable to that of donepezil, which had been employed as the positive control because it was likewise effective in relieving REP. Limonene was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties when it was examined, and the results showed a significant reduction in the number of activated glial cells and nitric oxide (NO) expression in the heads of flies that were treated with limonene [106].…”

Anticonvulsant effects of ivermectin on pentylenetetrazole- and maximal electroshock-induced seizures in mice: the role of GABAergic system and KATP channels

“…and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PTZ models in our current work, which have been utilized widely as the lab assessments to evaluate the anti-seizure effects of medication and to develop new antiepileptic therapies [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Similarly, the maximal electroshock-induced tonic-clonic seizure is the most severe electroshock convulsive response induced by supramaximal electrical stimulation currents.…”