Anticonvulsant Activity of Essential Oil From Leaves of Zhumeria majdae (Rech.) in Mice: The Role of GABAA Neurotransmission and the Nitric Oxide Pathway

Pharmacological and toxicity effects of Zhumeria majdae and its bioactive constituents: A review

Zhumeria majdae Rech. F. & Wendelbo. traditionally has been used in several remedies, as a carminative agent especially for children, as an antiseptic agent, and it is used in treating diarrhea, stomach irritations, headaches, colds, convulsions, spasms, dysmenorrhea, and healing wounds. According to clinical studies, it is highly effective for reducing inflammation and pain, treating bacterial and fungal infections, morphine tolerance, morphine dependence, withdrawal syndrome symptoms, convulsions, and diabetes. The goal of this review is to find therapeutic opportunities by analyzing the traditional uses and pharmacological effects of the chemical constituents of Z. majdae. The information on Z. majdae in this review was gathered from scientific databases or search engines (PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, SID, Google Scholar, and Microsoft Academic). The literature cited in this review dates from 1992 to 2021. Several bioactive components including linalool, camphor, manool, and bioactive diterpenoids are presen in different parts of Z. majdae. Various properties were observed such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, larvicidal, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Also, the effect of Z. majdae on morphine tolerance, morphine dependence, and withdrawal syndrome as well as its toxicology has been established. Although there are in vitro and animal studies on several pharmacological effects of Z. majdae, the lack of clinical studies is significant. Therefore, further clinical trials should be performed to confirm the in vitro and animal findings.

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

Introduction

Ivermectin (IVM) is an antiparasitic medicine that exerts its function through glutamate-gated chloride channels and GABA_A receptors predominantly. There is paucity of information on anti-seizure activity of IVM. Moreover, the probable pharmacological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been identified.

Materials and methods

In this study, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced clonic seizures and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced tonic-clonic seizure models, respectively in mice was utilized to inquire whether IVM could alter clonic seizure threshold (CST) and seizure susceptibility. To assess the underlying mechanism behind the anti-seizure activity of IVM, we used positive and negative allosteric modulators of GABA_A (diazepam and flumazenil, respectively) as well as K_ATP channel opener and closer (cromakalim and glibenclamide, respectively). Data are provided as mean ± S.E.M. After the performance of the variance homogeneity test, a one-way and two-way analysis of variance was used. Fisher's exact test was performed in case of MES. P-value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

and Discussion: Our data showed that IVM (0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) increased CST. Furthermore, flumazenil 0.25 mg/kg, i.p. and glibenclamide 1 mg/kg, i.p., could inhibit the anticonvulsant effects of IVM. Supplementary, an ineffective dose of diazepam 0.02 mg/kg, i.p. or cromakalim 10 μg/kg, i.p. were able to enhance the anticonvulsant effects of IVM. Besides, we figure out that the IVM (1 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.) could delay the onset of first clonic seizure and also might decrease the frequency of clonic seizures induced by PTZ (85 mg/kg, i.p.). Finally, IVM could prevent the incidence and death in MES-induced tonic-clonic seizures.

Conclusion

Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that IVM may exert anticonvulsant effects against PTZ- and MES-induced seizures in mice that might be mediated by GABA_A receptors and K_ATP channels.

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Ivermectin exerts anticonvulsant effects on PTZ-induced clonic seizures.

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Ivermectin prevents MES-induced tonic-clonic seizures in mice.

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Ivermectin has the most anticonvulsant effects in doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg in mice.

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These anticonvulsant effects may be mediated through the GABAergic system.

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ATP-sensitive potassium channels could play a role in these anti-seizure effects.