A study of antioxidant enzymes on experimental epileptic rat models induced by kainic acid excitotixicity

Abstract

The word neurodegeneration rightly refers to the degenerative changes in nerve cell structure and so in its functions too. The main characteristics of these neurodegenerative disorders are relentless progression and decline in cognition. Epilepsy is one of the neurodegenerative disorders that affects a major portion of people around the world and the common form of focal epilepsy is Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). According to researchers the major cause for nerve cell degeneration is the excess production of free radicals. Preventing their action or quenching them will make a big deal in preventing neurodegeneration. As research work in relation to neurodegeneration is very much limited in India, we aimed one as an initiative. As herbs are always well known for their antioxidant activity with negligible side effects, we planned to apply one of the well-known herb, Acorus calamus and studied the potency of it in maintaining the antioxidant enzyme levels. The aim of this study in particular is to analyze the preventive role of Acorus calamus and its active ingredient Beta asarone in neurodegeneration than treating neurodegeneration in epileptic rat models. For the same, we selected eight groups of animals.