Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, 66073-000, Brazil.
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Federal University of Pará, Belém, 66077-830, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 26;10(1):18222. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75309-w.
Camphor is an aromatic terpene compound found in the essential oils of many plants, which has been used for centuries as a herbal medicine, especially in children. However, many studies have shown that camphor may have major side effects, including neurological manifestation, such as seizures. In the present study, we investigated the electrocorticographic patterns of seizures induced by camphor in male adult Wistar rats. Each rat received 400 mg/kg (i.p.) of camphor prior to monitoring by electrocorticography. The application of camphor resulted a rapid evolution to seizure and marked changes in the electrocorticographic readings, which presented characteristics of epileptiform activity, with an increase in the total power wave. The decomposition of the cerebral waves revealed an increase in the delta and theta waves. The analysis of the camphor traces revealed severe ictal activity marked by an increase in the polyspike wave. Our data thus indicate that camphor may cause seizures, leading to tonic-clonic seizures. Clearly, further studies are necessary to better elucidate the mechanisms through which camphor acts on the brain, and to propose potential treatments with anticonvulsant drugs that are effective for the control of the seizures.
樟脑是一种存在于多种植物精油中的芳香萜类化合物，几个世纪以来一直被用作草药，尤其是在儿童中。然而，许多研究表明樟脑可能有重大的副作用，包括神经系统表现，如癫痫发作。在本研究中，我们研究了樟脑诱导雄性成年 Wistar 大鼠癫痫发作的皮质电图模式。在接受皮质电图监测之前，每只大鼠接受 400mg/kg（腹腔内）的樟脑。樟脑的应用导致癫痫发作迅速发展，并在皮质电图读数上发生明显变化，表现出癫痫样活动的特征，总功率波增加。脑波的分解显示出 δ 和 θ 波的增加。樟脑痕迹的分析显示出严重的发作活动，多棘波增加。因此，我们的数据表明樟脑可能导致癫痫发作，导致强直阵挛性发作。显然，需要进一步研究以更好地阐明樟脑对大脑作用的机制，并提出用抗惊厥药物进行潜在治疗，以有效控制癫痫发作。
