Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon.
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Mar 25;286:114863. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114863. Epub 2021 Nov 24.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the brain characterized by periodic and unpredictable occurrence of a transient behavior alteration due to the rhythmic, synchronous and disordered firing of brain neuron. Worldwide, approximately 50 million people currently live with epilepsy and close to 80% of people with epilepsy live in poor countries. However, it was noticed in many countries worldwide that people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination and that situation exposes them to high psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety as well as more physical problems including bruising and fractures from injuries related to seizures. However, several plants-based products used for epilepsy and anxiety treatments in different system of folk medicine have exhibited a significant anti-epileptic and antianxiety activities using animal models with fewer side effects.
The study aimed at evaluating the antiepileptic, status post-epilepticus and anxiolytic effects of Cymbopogon giganteus decoction in rat model induced by pilocarpine.
A total of 90 rats were partitioned into 7 groups and treated as follow: animals of groups I (normal control) and II (considered the negative control) received distilled water (10 mL/kg); while groups III, IV, V, and VI were treated with the C. giganteus extract at 34, 85, 170 and 340 mg/kg p.o, respectively; and the group VII (considered positive control) received sodium valproate at 300 mg/kg, i.p. After 40 min post-treatment, a single dose of n-methyl-scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p) was administered to animals of groups (II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) followed by pilocarpine (360 mg/kg, i.p). Animal of group I (normal group) received distilled water. Rats were further observed for 6 h to evaluate the severity and the duration of the acute seizures of epilepsy according to Racine scale. Anxious behavior status post-epilepticus was also assessed in the same rats used above in the Elevated Plus Maze and number of entries into the open or closed arms and the time spent on either open or closed arms of the platform were recorded. Animals were also evaluated on Open Field Test and the number of rearing, crossing, grooming, defecation and center time were registered.
C. giganteus decoction significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the animal mortality, the number and duration of convulsions and effectively increased the latency of convulsions. The plant extract significantly (P < 0.05) improved GSH level and SOD activity, reduced MDA and CAT activity, increased GABA level and decreased GABA-t activity in hippocampus. The anxiety induced by pilocarpine was also significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by the extract of the plant.
Thus, C. giganteus has demonstrated its antiepileptic and anxiolytic activities in rat model and may be used as preventive measure for patients suffering from epilepsy seizures and anxiety.
癫痫是一种以大脑神经元节律性、同步性和紊乱性放电导致短暂行为改变为特征的神经紊乱。全球范围内，约有 5000 万人患有癫痫，近 80%的癫痫患者生活在贫困国家。然而，在世界许多国家都注意到，癫痫患者及其家属遭受污名化和歧视，这种情况使他们面临更高的心理状况，如抑郁和焦虑，以及更多的身体问题，包括因癫痫发作相关的伤害而出现瘀伤和骨折。然而，许多国家的民间医学中用于治疗癫痫和焦虑的植物产品，在动物模型中表现出显著的抗癫痫和抗焦虑作用，且副作用较少。
本研究旨在评估香茅草汤对匹鲁卡品诱导的癫痫大鼠模型的抗癫痫、癫痫后状态和抗焦虑作用。
总共 90 只大鼠被分为 7 组进行如下处理：I 组（正常对照组）和 II 组（负对照组）动物给予蒸馏水（10 mL/kg）；III、IV、V 和 VI 组分别给予香茅草提取物 34、85、170 和 340 mg/kg，口服；VII 组（阳性对照组）给予丙戊酸钠 300 mg/kg，腹腔注射。给药 40 min 后，II、III、IV、V、VI、VII 组动物给予 N-甲基东莨菪碱（1 mg/kg，腹腔注射），随后给予匹鲁卡品（360 mg/kg，腹腔注射）。I 组（正常组）动物给予蒸馏水。进一步观察大鼠 6 小时，根据 Racine 量表评估癫痫急性发作的严重程度和持续时间。同样使用上述大鼠在高架十字迷宫中评估癫痫后焦虑状态，并记录进入开放或封闭臂的次数以及在平台的开放或封闭臂上花费的时间。还在旷场试验中评估动物，记录后肢站立、穿越、梳理、排便和中心时间。
香茅草汤显著（P<0.05）降低了动物死亡率、抽搐次数和持续时间，并有效延长了抽搐潜伏期。该植物提取物还显著（P<0.05）提高了海马组织中的 GSH 水平和 SOD 活性，降低了 MDA 和 CAT 活性，增加了 GABA 水平，降低了 GABA-t 活性。香茅草提取物还显著（P<0.05）抑制了匹鲁卡品诱导的焦虑。
因此，香茅草在大鼠模型中表现出抗癫痫和抗焦虑活性，可作为预防癫痫发作和焦虑症患者的措施。
