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Volume 14, Issue 1 (4-2024)
cmja 2024, 14(1): 13-20 |
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Gholami M, Sadegh M. Investing the anti epileptic effect of Aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium on seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in male rats. cmja 2024; 14 (1) :13-20
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-988-en.html
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-988-en.html
1- Assistant Professor of Physiology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran , ma.gholami@arakmu.ac.ir
2- Associate Professor of Physiology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
2- Associate Professor of Physiology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
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INTRODUCTION
Epilepsy is a common brain disease that affects 1 out of every 100 people in the world. (1). Despite many studies aimed at identifying the pathogenic mechanisms of epilepsy, there are still many unknowns in this field(2). Research has demonstrated that frequent and long-term seizures can lead to cognitive and emotional disorders(3), reduce the quality of life for patients, and increase the risk of injury and even death (4). Uncontrolled epilepsy not only imposes many restrictions on daily activities but also causes damage to brain cells. Therefore, controlling and treating this disease is of utmost importance (5). The use of anti-epileptic drugs is often associated with numerous side effects and drug interactions, and approximately 30% of epilepsy patients have been reported to develop drug resistance (6). As a result, it is essential that research be carried out to discover new anti-epileptic drugs. Numerous studies have been recently conducted on the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants in various diseases, including epilepsy(7). Artemisia absinthium is a medicinal plant native to Iran that belongs to the Asteraceae family and the Asteroideae subfamily(8). Studies on the properties of absinthe have illustrated that this plant possesses antioxidant properties that can protect cells from oxidative effects(9), earning it a reputation as an effective antioxidant(10). Reports also indicate that seizures and neurotoxicity caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) result in an increase in the production of free radicals (11), and seizures and epilepsy lead to oxidative damage to cortical areas and hippocampus, resulting in learning and memory disorders (12). Given the antioxidant effects of this plant, it appears that absinthe may be effective in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsions.
METHODS
The present study was carried out on 30 male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 grams. The rats were then assigned to five groups of 6: 1- control (pentylenetetrazole), 2-vehicle group (distilled water), 3- absinthe 50 mg/kg, 4- absinthe 100 mg/kg, and 5- absinthe 200 mg/kg. The ethical principles of working with laboratory animals were followed according to the protocol approved by the Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences. The aerial parts of the absinthe plant, including flowers, leaves, and stems, were used to prepare an aqueous extract. Pentylenetetrazole (manufactured by Sigma) with a dose of 80 mg/kg was dissolved in 0.9% normal saline solution after 30 minutes of injecting distilled water to the vehicle group and
plant extract in doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to the treated groups. It was injected intraperitoneally, and convulsive behaviors were recorded by a camera for 30 minutes. The different stages of seizures were then evaluated according to Racine's classification. In this study, the results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test. A p-value of less than p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
The average time to reach each stage and the duration of the fifth stage of seizures in different experimental groups were analyzed through one-way ANOVA, and the difference between groups was evaluated using Tukey's post-test. Data analysis indicated that absinthe extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg causes a delay in the beginning of stages four (P<0.01) and five (P<0.001) compared to the control group. In addition, this extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg reduced the duration of stage five seizures compared to the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of the fourth and fifth stages and the percentage of death of animals in the dose of 100 mg/kg were lower compared to other doses of the extract.
CONCLUSION
As evidenced by the results of this study, the aqueous extract of the absinthe plant has a significant effect on improving seizures. Moreover, this extract reduces mortality from seizures in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it is recommended that additional research be carried out to identify the effective components of this extract and its mechanism of action.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All experimental protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee at Arak University of Medical Sciences (IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.372).
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors' Contributions
MG helped design the study, gather data, analyze it, interpret the results, and review the manuscript. MS assisted with the study design and data analysis. All the authors agreed with the content of the paper.
Conflict of Interest
Non.
Acknowledgments
The authors' deepest appreciation goes to all those who helped us in carrying out this research project.
Epilepsy is a common brain disease that affects 1 out of every 100 people in the world. (1). Despite many studies aimed at identifying the pathogenic mechanisms of epilepsy, there are still many unknowns in this field(2). Research has demonstrated that frequent and long-term seizures can lead to cognitive and emotional disorders(3), reduce the quality of life for patients, and increase the risk of injury and even death (4). Uncontrolled epilepsy not only imposes many restrictions on daily activities but also causes damage to brain cells. Therefore, controlling and treating this disease is of utmost importance (5). The use of anti-epileptic drugs is often associated with numerous side effects and drug interactions, and approximately 30% of epilepsy patients have been reported to develop drug resistance (6). As a result, it is essential that research be carried out to discover new anti-epileptic drugs. Numerous studies have been recently conducted on the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants in various diseases, including epilepsy(7). Artemisia absinthium is a medicinal plant native to Iran that belongs to the Asteraceae family and the Asteroideae subfamily(8). Studies on the properties of absinthe have illustrated that this plant possesses antioxidant properties that can protect cells from oxidative effects(9), earning it a reputation as an effective antioxidant(10). Reports also indicate that seizures and neurotoxicity caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) result in an increase in the production of free radicals (11), and seizures and epilepsy lead to oxidative damage to cortical areas and hippocampus, resulting in learning and memory disorders (12). Given the antioxidant effects of this plant, it appears that absinthe may be effective in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsions.
METHODS
The present study was carried out on 30 male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 grams. The rats were then assigned to five groups of 6: 1- control (pentylenetetrazole), 2-vehicle group (distilled water), 3- absinthe 50 mg/kg, 4- absinthe 100 mg/kg, and 5- absinthe 200 mg/kg. The ethical principles of working with laboratory animals were followed according to the protocol approved by the Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences. The aerial parts of the absinthe plant, including flowers, leaves, and stems, were used to prepare an aqueous extract. Pentylenetetrazole (manufactured by Sigma) with a dose of 80 mg/kg was dissolved in 0.9% normal saline solution after 30 minutes of injecting distilled water to the vehicle group and
plant extract in doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to the treated groups. It was injected intraperitoneally, and convulsive behaviors were recorded by a camera for 30 minutes. The different stages of seizures were then evaluated according to Racine's classification. In this study, the results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test. A p-value of less than p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
The average time to reach each stage and the duration of the fifth stage of seizures in different experimental groups were analyzed through one-way ANOVA, and the difference between groups was evaluated using Tukey's post-test. Data analysis indicated that absinthe extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg causes a delay in the beginning of stages four (P<0.01) and five (P<0.001) compared to the control group. In addition, this extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg reduced the duration of stage five seizures compared to the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of the fourth and fifth stages and the percentage of death of animals in the dose of 100 mg/kg were lower compared to other doses of the extract.
CONCLUSION
As evidenced by the results of this study, the aqueous extract of the absinthe plant has a significant effect on improving seizures. Moreover, this extract reduces mortality from seizures in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it is recommended that additional research be carried out to identify the effective components of this extract and its mechanism of action.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All experimental protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee at Arak University of Medical Sciences (IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.372).
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors' Contributions
MG helped design the study, gather data, analyze it, interpret the results, and review the manuscript. MS assisted with the study design and data analysis. All the authors agreed with the content of the paper.
Conflict of Interest
Non.
Acknowledgments
The authors' deepest appreciation goes to all those who helped us in carrying out this research project.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Medicinal Plants
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