title: Hydroalcoholic extract of Emblica officinalis protects against kainic acid-induced status epilepticus in rats: evidence for an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as amla, is traditionally used for central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the effect of standardized hydroalcoholic extract of E. officinalis fruit (HAEEO), an Indian medicinal plant with potent antioxidant activity, was studied against kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures, cognitive deficits and on markers of oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were administered KA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and observed for behavioral changes, incidence, and latency of convulsions over 4 h. The rats were thereafter sacrificed for estimation of oxidative stress parameters: thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH). The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was also determined in the rat brain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment with HAEEO (500 and 700 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P < 0.001) increased the latency of seizures as compared with the vehicle-treated KA group. HAEEO significantly prevented the increase in TBARS levels and ameliorated the fall in GSH. Furthermore, HAEEO dose-dependently attenuated the KA-induced increase in the TNF-α level in the brain. HAEEO also significantly improved the cognitive deficit induced by KA, as evidenced by increased latency in passive avoidance task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAEEO at the dose of 700 mg/kg, i.p., was most effective in suppressing KA-induced seizures, cognitive decline, and oxidative stress in the brain. These neuroprotective effects may be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HAEEO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mahaveer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golechha
authors.forename: Jagriti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Shreesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ojha
authors.forename: Dharmveer Singh
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Arya
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005638:Fruit; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007608:Kainic Acid; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D029842:Phyllanthus emblica / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D007608:Kainic Acid