The effect of pretreatment with hydroalcoholic extract of Alpinia officinarum rhizome on seizure severity and memory impairment in pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling model of seizure in rat

Neuroprotective properties of Betulin, Betulinic acid, and Ursolic acid as triterpenoids derivatives: a comprehensive review of mechanistic studies

Cognitive deficits are the main outcome of neurological disorders whose occurrence has risen over the past three decades. Although there are some pharmacologic approaches approved for managing neurological disorders, it remains largely ineffective. Hence, exploring novel nature-based nutraceuticals is a pressing need to alleviate the results of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Some triterpenoids and their derivates can be considered potential therapeutics against neurological disorders due to their neuroprotective and cognitive-improving effects. Betulin (B), betulinic acid (BA), and ursolic acid (UA) are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with a variety of biological activities, including antioxidative, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the therapeutic efficacy and probable molecular mechanisms of triterpenoids in damage prevention to neurons and restoring cognition in neurodegenerative diseases. Considering few studies on this concept, the precise mechanisms that mediate the effect of these compounds in neurodegenerative disorders have remained unknown. The findings can provide sufficient information about the advantages of these compounds against neurodegenerative diseases.

In-vivo anti-epileptic study of newly synthesized pregabalin derivatives based on docking studies

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the present study is to examine pretreatment with Schiff bases and derivatives of pregabalin along with their metal (Zn and Cu) complexes on the severity of epilepsy, latency time, duration of convulsions, seizure score and survival rate in mice.

METHODS

To achieve the goal, a molecular docking study of analogues was carried out on a specific molecular target, such as the alpha-2δ receptor (PDB ID: 6ND9); which revealed the significant binding affinity of the analogs to their respective target. Based on the docking information, all pregabalin derivatives were synthesized and in-vivo antiepileptic effect was confirmed by applying the PTZ model that prioritized the most crucial significant points responsible for biological activity.

RESULTS

The test compounds markedly increased the latency of the first seizure and reduced the frequency of seizures throughout the body and frequent spinning and jumps. Additionally, treatment with pregabalin derivatives in mice that received PTZ significantly reduced the duration of seizures and seizure score. However, it increased the survival rate of the mice.

DISCUSSION

Since the newly synthesized compounds were more active as compared to the parent drug in some respects; therefore, the expansion of the project can be planned to explore clinical side of the drugs in the future.

Effects of Satureja Bachtiarica Essential Oil in Preventing Seizure in Pentylenetetrazol-Kindled Mice

Introduction

Epilepsy is a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Satureja bachtiarica essential oil in preventing epilepsy.

Methods

In this experimental study, 50 mice were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 each. The control group received normal saline plus tween-80 and after 30 min pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Groups 2 and 3 were treated first with S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively and then after 30 min received PTZ. Group 4 received diazepam and 30 min later PTZ. Group 5 received flumazenil and 30 min later PTZ. After the last injection of PTZ, the time of seizure onset, seizure severity and score, the completion time of each seizure (attack episode), and mortality rate in different groups were recorded and compared.

Results

The administration of S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to PTZ-treated mice caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure and survival of mice, as well as a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizure, total body seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping. S. bachtiarica essential oil at 100 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the head tic frequency. The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited S. bachtiarica essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that S. bachtiarica essential oil could prevent PTZ-induced seizure and these findings authenticate the traditional claims about the use of S. bachtiarica in treating epilepsy.

Highlights

The administration of S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to pentylenetetrazol PTZ-treated mice caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure.• The administration of S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to PTZ-treated mice caused a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizures, total body seizures, tonic seizures, and spin and jump.• The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited S. bachtiarica essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping.

Plain Language Summary

Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system, so that one in every 100 people is suffering from epilepsy globally. Despite the development of antiepileptic drugs, novel strategies are sought out because of drug resistance and the side effects resulting from these drugs at high concentrations. Researchers have focused on plants for certain reasons such as availability, the history of long-term use, being nature-based, and relative safety. In the current study, the effect of the pretreatment with S. bachtiarica essential oil in preventing seizure was studied in the pentylenetetrazol-kindled mice. The injection of 50 and 100 mg/kg of S. bachtiarica essential oil caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure and survival duration, and a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and spin and jump in the pentylenetetrazol-receiving mice.

Neuroprotective effects of Pinus eldarica in a mouse model of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures

Objective:

Oxidative stress has pernicious effects on the brain. Pinus eldarica has antioxidant properties. We explored neuroprotective effect of P. eldarica against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures.

Materials and Methods:

Male mice (BALB/c) were grouped as control, PTZ, Soxhlet (Sox) 100, Sox 200, Macerated (Mac) 100 and Mac 200 groups. Sox and Mac extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) were injected during 7 days. Delay in onset of minimal clonic seizure (MCS) and generalized tonic- clonic seizure (GTCS) was measured. Number of dark neurons (DN) and levels of oxidative stress indicators in the hippocampus were evaluated.

Results:

Onset of MCS and GTCS was later in groups treated with the extracts than the PTZ group (p<0.01 and p<0.001). Number of DN in the hippocampus in the PTZ group was higher than the control group (p<0.001) while in the extract groups, was lower than the PTZ group (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). MDA level was higher whereas total thiol level and activity of SOD and CAT were lower (p<0.001) in the PTZ group than the control group. MDA level in the Sox 100 (p<0.01), Sox 200 (p<0.001) and Mac 200 (p<0.01) groups was less than the PTZ group. Total thiol level in the Sox 200 (p<0.001), SOD in the Sox 100 (p<0.05), Sox 200, and Mac 200 and CAT in the Sox 200 (p<0.001) groups were higher than the PTZ group.

Conclusion:

P. eldarica prevented neuronal death and reduced seizures caused by PTZ via improving brain oxidative stress.