Abstract
Boldine is a natural antioxidant that exhibits some important pharmacological properties,
which is due to its free radical scavenging effects. And at the same time, reactive
oxygen species (ROS) has an important role in pathogenesis of seizure; hence, reducing
it via antioxidants like boldine seems to be effective in treating seizure. This study
was designed to investigate whether acute treatment with boldine could alter seizures
induced by pentylenetetrazole or electroshock in mice. We also evaluated to see if
boldine’s antioxidant properties play a role in its anti-convulsant activity. Boldine
acute administration increased time latencies to the onset of myoclonic jerks and
clonic seizures induced by intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole model. Moreover, boldine
increased seizure threshold induced by intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazole.
Additionally, acute doses of boldine reduced the duration of tonic hind-limb extension
in the electroshock-induced seizure model. Non-effective dose of vitamin C (as an
antioxidant agent) and boldine had anti-convulsant effect in intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole,
intravenous pentylenetetrazole and electroshock models. Boldine administration increased
glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels in mice whole brain. The result showed
boldine anti-seizure properties, which might be due to its antioxidant activity.
Key words
Seizure - Pentylenetetrazole - Mice - Boldine - Antioxidant - Oxidative stress