The sub-chronic Administration of Echium Oil Attenuates the Seizure Threshold and Improves Antioxidant Activity in Pentylenetetrazol-induced Seizure Model of Mice.

Abstract

Recently polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been considered as the supplementation with no side effects for epilepsy treatment. Echium oil (EO) has been recommended as a novel plant-based source with a significant amount of omega-3 and omega-6. This study evaluates the effects of the sub-chronic consumption of Iranian EO on seizure threshold, antioxidant status, and biochemical parameters in mice with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures. The study was performed on 5 groups of mice (10 in each group). Group1 and control, had no treatment. Group 2 received sesame oil as a vehicle and groups 3-5 received EO doses of 1gr/kg, 3gr/kg and 5gr/kg, respectively. Administration was performed daily by gavage for 4 weeks. Then, the mice received intravenous PTZ for induction seizure and the threshold of seizure was evaluated. Finally, the animals were sacrificed and the concentration of lipid, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Creatinine, and the SOD activity of the serum were determined. Compared to vehicle groups, the sub-chronic administration of EO could increase the seizure threshold dose-dependently. The level of ALT, AST, ALP, Creatinine, HDL, and LDL in EO treatment groups did not change significantly. The level of cholesterol, VLDL (P<0.05), and TG (P<0.01) decreased in the 3gr/kg and 5gr/kg of EO groups. Moreover, the level of SOD activity increased in groups with EO of 1gr/kg and 3gr/kg (P<0.01) but had no change in the group with 5gr/kg EO. We found that the supplementation of Echium Oil attenuated the seizure induced by iv PTZ and had beneficial effects on the blood lipids and antioxidant system with no side effects on effects on the liver and kidney.