Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Satchys Lavandulifolia on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Male Mice: The Role of Gabaergic and Opioidergic Systems

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Though there are effective medications available for treatment of epilepsy, the use of most drugs is associated with many side effects and drug interactions. Stachys lavandulifolia (SL) used in Iranian traditional medicine show anti-anxiety and sedative actions. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of SL on the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure in male mice and the role of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors. Methods: This study was conducted on 100 male mice randomly categorized into 10 groups: Normal Saline, Diazepam groups (0.025 and 0.1 mg/kg), SL extract groups (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), Diazepam 0.025 mg/kg + SL extract 50mg/kg and three groups that pre-treated with NS, Flumazenil or Naloxone, 5 min before injection of 200 mg/kg extract. After 30 min, PTZ (80 mg/kg) was injected to animals and seizure indices were evaluated. Results: The SL extract attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose dependent manner and pre-treatment with flumazenil reversed this effect of SL extract but pre-treatment with naloxone could not reverse this effect, because seizure indices on naloxone pretreated group was still lower than normal saline group. Combination of ineffective dose of diazepam and SL extract decrease PTZ-induced seizures. Discussion: The results of our study showed the anticonvulsant properties of hydroalcoholic extract of SL. These effects might be due to the impact of the components of this extract on the central benzodiazepine system.