Abstract
BackgroundThe current objective is to evaluate the effect of frankincense oil on the convulsions and the associated neurochemical alterations produced in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rat model.MethodsRats were divided randomly into: control, status epilepticus rat model and rat model of status epilepticus pretreated with frankincense oil daily for 5 days before pilocarpine treatment. On the fifth day, after pilocarpine injection, rats were observed to evaluate the severity of seizures for 2 h. The oxidative stress parameters malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and nitric oxide, the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β and acetylcholinesterase were determined in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin were measured in the cortex and striatum.ResultsThe status epilepticus model exhibited repetitive seizures in the form of generalized tonic- clonic convulsions after 30 min. of pilocarpine injection. This was associated with a significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione in the three regions. A significant increase was also observed in interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and acetylcholinesterase. In the cortex and striatum, a significant decrease was recorded in monoamine levels. Pretreatment of rat model of status epilepticus with frankincense oil decreased the severity of seizures that appeared in the form of tremors and facial automatisms and prevented the increase in malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and acetylcholinesterase and the decrease in reduced glutathione induced by pilocarpine in the studied brain regions. Frankincense oil failed to restore the decreased level of cortical serotonin and dopamine. In the striatum, frankincense oil improved the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine but failed to restore the decreased dopamine levels.ConclusionIt is clear from the present results that frankincense oil reduced the severity of seizures induced by pilocarpine. This could be mediated by its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Highlights
Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency that represents the second most recurrent lifethreatening crisis after stroke
Results of Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/mass spectrometer (MS)) analysis Gas chromatography mass spectrometric (GC/MC) analysis showed that the main components of frankincense oil were octyl acetate (67.44%), thymol (16.69%), octanol (10.1%) and carvone (2.96%)
This was in agreement with Al-Yasiry and Kiczorowska who demonstrated that the major constituent of frankincense oil was octyl acetate [37] (Table 1, Fig. 1)
Summary
Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency that represents the second most recurrent lifethreatening crisis after stroke. Higher numbers are observed in children and elderly, generating a ‘U-shaped’ curve [1, 2]. It is defined as repetitive or (2020) 6:3 leading eventually to neuronal injury, gliosis and cognitive impairment [6, 9]. Both clinical studies and experimental models provided evidence implicating inflammatory cytokines in the induction and propagation of seizures either directly or indirectly [10]. The current objective is to evaluate the effect of frankincense oil on the convulsions and the associated neurochemical alterations produced in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rat model
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