INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy is a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 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 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 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. essential oil at 100 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the head tic frequency. The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping.

CONCLUSION

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

HIGHLIGHTS

The administration of 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 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 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 essential oil in preventing seizure was studied in the pentylenetetrazol-kindled mice. The injection of 50 and 100 mg/kg of 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.