Author/Authors :
Ghorbanian, Davoud Student Research Committee - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Ghasemi Kasman, Maryam Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center - Health Research Institute - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Hashemian, Mona Student Research Committee - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Gorji, Elaheh Student Research Committee - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Gol, Mohammad Student Research Committee - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Feizi, Farideh Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center - Health Research Institute - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Kazemi, Sohrab Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center - Health Research Institute - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Ashrafpour, Manouchehr Neuroscience Research Center - Health Research Institute - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran , Moghadamnia, Ali Akbar Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center - Health Research Institute - Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Abstract :
Inflammatory reactions are closely associated with the development and progression
of epilepsy. It has been shown that inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are
released from activated astrocytes and microglia, are considered to be an effective therapeutic
approach for the treatment of epileptic disorders. Regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of
nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt), the present study was designed to investigate whether the
nutmeg ethanolic extract could exert anticonvulsant and inhibitory effects on glial activation
in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced mice model of kindling. Ethanolic extract of nutmeg was
administrated intraperitoneally (i.p.) 1 hour before PTZ injection or one week before PTZ
as a separate group, to become fully-kindled. The chemical components of nutmeg extract
were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Immunostaining against
neuronal and glial markers was performed on hippocampus sections. GC-MS data indicated
that the main components of nutmeg extract are myristic acid (39.93%), elemicin (22.16%)
and myristicin (11.17%). Behavioral studies showed that pre-treatment of nutmeg extract
effectively reduced seizures behavior, decreased cell death, and ameliorated glial activation
that is followed by PTZ administration. In conclusion, nutmeg extract might be regarded as a
useful supplementary agent in epilepsy treatment through its attenuation of neuronal loss and
glial activation.
Keywords :
Glial activation , Neuroprotection , Nutmeg extract , Pentylenetetrazol , Epilepsy
