In-vivo Anticonvulsant and Analgesic Activities of Sclareol Isolated from Salvia officinalis L

Abstract

Salvia officinalis, a native plant to the Mediterranean and Middle East, is familiar cookery and traditional herb. Herein, in vivo anticonvulsant and analgesic effects of sclareol isolated from S. officinalis were reported. Sclareol (50 mg/kg) decreased tonic convulsions from 100% (positive control) to 33.33% with 16.66% mortality using MES protocol. Also, 100 mg/kg decreased convulsions to 16.66%, with no mortality. In MEST test, sclareol protected against gradually increased electric shock in a dose-dependent manner comparable to phenytoin. Pentylenetetrazole injection induced generalized clonic seizures and 100% mortality. Sclareol pretreatment exhibited a prolonged latency to 1-3 stages of clonic convulsions with significant incidence reduction of lethality. Sclareol at both doses was not neurotoxic in rotarod test. In the hot-plate test, sclareol showed analgesic effect at 60 and 90 min after drug administration. Finally, in addition to its central anti-nociceptive effect, sclareol also protected against chemically- and electrically-induced seizures with no central nervous system side effects. Our findings suggest that sclareol could be a leading compound for a potential new antiepileptic and analgesic drug.