Alleviating Potential of <i>Zingiber officinale</i> and Cow Urine Distillate Co-administered with Levetiracetam in Epileptic Rats: A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamics Approach

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a severe neurological condition that affects all ages of people. Complex pathways involved in pathogenesis make it complicated to treat; selected antiepileptic drug options are available for Epilepsy. There is a need for an hour to develop novel treatment approaches for epilepsy with lesser side effects. This research aimed to evaluate the alleviating role of bio-enhancers co-administered with levetiracetam for pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. Methodology: Pilocarpine (250 mg/kg) was used to develop epilepsy in rats. Levetiracetam (LEV) (140 mg/kg) was administered with Zingiber officinale Extract (ZOE) (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) and Cow Urine Distillate (CUD) (1.5 ml/kg and 3 ml/kg). HPLC was used to evaluate drug concentration in blood. Serum nitrate, catalase, CRP, calcium level and calcium level of the brain, behavioural markers in rats were assessed and compared with the Leviteracetam group only. Result and Discussion: The present study showed that combining ZOE and CUD with levetiracetam was advantageous through substantial reduction (p < 0.05) in serum nitrate, CRP and increased catalase (p < 0.05), while reduced serum calcium compared to LEV alone. Combination of ZOE and CUD with levetiracetam treatment also reduced seizure behaviour and duration in rats. The bioavailability of LEV in plasma and brain was increased when epileptic rats were treated with LEV plus ZOE and CUD compared to disease control. Conclusion: Utilization of Zingiber officinale and CUD in combination with LEV was proven therapeutically effective in the epileptic model and used to lower the dose of LEV along with reducing seizure behaviour and time with the potential for the treatment of epilepsy.