The Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effect of Tanacetum polycephalum in the Pentylenetetrazole Kindled Rats

Background and objective: Epilepsy one the most prevalent neurological illness which affects behavioral statuses like anxiety, depression and balance. Based on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Tanacetum polycephalum, its effect on anxiety and depression caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindling in rats was investigated. Methods : In order to prepare the required extract, aerial part of the Tanacetum was powdered (100 g) and macerated in 1 L of ethanol (80%) for 24 h. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to four groups: PTZ (sub-threshold dose 35 mg/kg for one month, intraperitoneal (i.p)), PTZ + phenobarbital (30 mg/kg, i.p), PTZ + Tanacetum extract (300 mg/kg, i.p), and PTZ + Tanacetum extract (600 mg/kg, i.p). Elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swim test (FST) and rotarod test were employed to assess the anxiety parameters, antidepressant and balance potential, respectively. Results: Tanacetum extract administered at the doses of 300, and 600 mg/kg, exert antidepressant-like activity in the FST test and reduced the immobility time. In the EPM test, Tanacetum extract at the same doses produced anxiolytic-like effects. Also, the rats which received Tanacetum extract showed a significant improvement in the rotarod test in contrast to the PTZ group. Conclusion: The finding from current study showed that Tanacetum could ameliorate neurobehavioral parameters of anxiety and depression in the PTZ-kindled rats.